PNP powers Calabarzon with 100 M16, M14 rifles

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 18): PNP powers Calabarzon with 100 M16, M14 rifles

The Philippine National Police (PNP) national headquarters has boosted firepower of the Calabarzon police force with 100 units of M16 armalite and M14 (sniper) rifles as well as operational equipment during Monday’s turnover rites at the regional police headquarters here.

Chief Superintendent Arnel Escobal, PNP director of the Highway Patrol Group, graced Monday’s turnover and flag raising rites as part of the police camp’s Distinguished Visitors Program.

The firearms acquisition is part of the PNP’s Php370 million capability-building and arms modernization program which benefits the police units in the Calabarzon region comprising Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces.

Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO4A) Director, Chief Supt. Ma. O Aplasca, said the rifles are to be distributed to the five Calabarzon provinces.

"These firearms will surely boost our shoot capabilities in our anti-criminality and anti-illegal drugs campaign and internal security operations," Aplasca said.

He was later joined by Escobal and Calabarzon police regional deputy Director for Administration (DRDA) Israel Ephraim Dickson during the inspections of firearms and equipment at the camp’s grandstand.

The rifles will be distributed to the Regional Public Safety Batallion (RPSB) with 20 units of M16 and one M14 while each Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) per province will receive the 80 M16 units accordingly with Batangas – 20; Cavite – 9; Laguna – 14; Quezon – 30; and Rizal – 7.

Also, the Practical Shooters and Match Officers Confederation (PSMOC) has donated 15 reloading machines for the city police stations in the Calabarzon region.

Recipients of the reloading machines are city police stations of Batangas, Lipa and Tanauan (in Batangas province); Cavite, Tagaytay, Trece Martirez, Dasmariñas, Bacoor and Imus (Cavite province); Calamba, San Pablo, Santa Rosa and Cabuyao (Laguna); Antipolo City in Rizal province and Lucena City in Quezon province.

The Public Safety Savings and Loan Association Inc. (PSSLAI) also donated a laptop, desktop, projector and roll-up wide screen.

Aplasca expressed gratitude to PNP chief, Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, PSMOC and the PSSLAI for their continuing support to the PRO4A.

Also highlighting Monday’s activities was the PRO4A's Civil Disturbance Management Company’s demonstration which impressed the crowd with their agility, skills and preparedness for any event and call to service.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1001385