Cops back to using whistles, batons

MANILA, Philippines — Following the death of two teenagers at the hands of police officers, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will again be issuing whistles and batons to its personnel.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. disclosed that some police units have already implemented his directive of using the non-lethal weapons in carrying out law enforcement.

“We’ve already issued the memorandum, and I think it’s being implemented among our police force,” Acorda said in Filipino and English during a news conference last Monday.

During their last command conference, the PNP chief reminded
 police commanders that the use of firearms should be the last option when dealing with suspected criminals.

“We emphasized that during our last command conference because guns, firing warning shots has become a course of action among our police force,” he said.

On Aug. 2, 17-year-old Jerhode Baltazar was shot to death by policemen in Navotas City who mistook him for a suspect in a shooting incident.

Eight police officers were dismissed from service and others were suspended due to Baltazar’s killing.

Another boy, 15-year-old John Francis Ompad, was killed on Aug. 20 by a policeman who was pursuing his brother who allegedly evaded a security checkpoint.

Acorda said whistles and batons would become part of equipping police officers on the ground.