Philippine National Police regional director, Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio, reiterated yesterday a letter of instruction that banned the use of airsoft guns now reportedly proliferating in Central Visayas.

In Dumaguete City alone, a group of airsoft enthusiasts even paraded the streets upon the invitation of the city during the celebration of the city's Liberation Day last April.

Because airsoft guns look like real guns being replicas, Chief Supt.

Alarcio said they could be mistaken as real guns.

He, however, would not want to discourage them, but entered into an agreement that enthusiasts who still play with the replicas should re-paint the guns to differentiate them from the real ones.

On the proposition to arm working journalists, Chief Supt. Alarcio also reiterated that the issue is a matter of personal choice.

He said some journalists think that guns are more of a liability and would prefer not to carry them.

But to acquire guns is within the bounds of the law provided the qualified applicants must follow the correct process to acquire firearms.

Meanwhile, Alarcio has likewise commended the strides and successes of the Task Force 24, an anti-drug body, and considered it as one of the police units that have best practices in Region 7.

In his recent visit to the PNP provincial command in Oriental Negros, Alarcio said the gains of the Task Force 24 are being talked about among provincial commanders and may be adapted regionwide.

He stressed that the PNP is also strongly supporting the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in addressing the proliferation of illegal drugs.

Alarcio, however, believes the present drug situation in the country is much better than that few years back, due to the dismantling of clandestine shabu laboratories in different parts of the country.*JG

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