Civilians who fire their guns during the New Year's eve revelry will also be subject to criminal charges.

Chief Supt. Antonio Billones, chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations, yesterday said civilians who fire their guns will be arrested and charged for alarm and scandal.

If they are licensed gun holders, Billones said their licenses will be revoked, aside from the charges to be filed against them.

In anticipation of the New Year's eve celebration, the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Negros are now making sure that none of their members fire their guns at the end of the year.

All 1,200 policemen in Negros have been ordered to put adhesive tape on the muzzles of their firearms, to be signed by their superiors, in compliance with the orders of PNP chief Arturo Lomibao.

Police chiefs were also ordered to conduct an accounting of firearms and ammunition issued to their subordinates.

Billones led a team of inspectors from Camp Crame in conducting an evaluation of the Negros Occidental police and Bacolod City Police Office, which are among the police units vying for awards at the national level.

Earlier, Brig. Gen. Jogy Leo Fojas, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, also aired a similar warning to soldiers who violate the order.

Guns will be used only against enemies of the state, Fojas said.

Billones also urged local government units to pass an ordinance related to the use of firecrackers, to reduce the incidence of blast injured victims during the yuletide season revelry.

He added that PNP is closely coordinating with the Department of Health in the "Oplan Iwas Paputok" campaign.*GPB

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