Policemen display their new pistols during distribution of firearms in a military camp in Quezon City yesterday.
MANILA: The Philippines’ poorly paid police have been warned they will be sacked if they sell their new semi-automatic pistols, a spokesman for the corruption-plagued force said yesterday.
The Glock pistols being distributed to tens of thousands of officers cost about twice as much as an entry-level salary in the force, and there are fears that the guns could end up on the black market.
“This is a very attractive gun, and many unscrupulous businessmen would be interested in getting hold of them,” national police spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Sindac said. He said police chief Alan Purisima issued the warning, telling his officers they would be sacked and charged with the criminal offence of misusing government money if they pawned their weapons.
This came after President Benigno Aquino said on Tuesday that 75,000 officers — or half the cash-strapped police force — would be given pistols after going without official weapons for years.
The lowliest policeman’s monthly salary is about 21,000 pesos ($480), roughly half the legal market price for the new Glocks. AFP
