Practice makes perfect. And it deters criminals, too.
Security personnel in this free port now look forward to better shooting skills, thanks to a championship-level marksmanship competition launched recently by the Law Enforcement Department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA-LED).
The shooting contest, dubbed as the SBMA-LED General’s Cup, was launched on January 24 by retired Gen. Orlando Maddela, who now heads the security force in Subic. It will be held on a quarterly basis from now on, Maddela said.
A total of 108 officers from the different branches of the SBMA-LED joined the launch of the General’s Cup at the Zambales-Olongapo Pistol and Rifle Association (ZOFRA) shooting stable in Castillejos, Zambales.
For starters, the participants competed under the beginner’s category. Winners were determined based on “accuracy over time” point system.
Edu Grueso from the LED’s disaster management unit was declared champion after garnering 83.47 points. Second place went to Jeffrey Domingo of the LED’s administration section, who got 69.63 points; and the third was Ricardo Eligido, also from administration, with 66.83 points.
Completing the Top 10 shooters list were: Romeo Tolentino, port sentinel branch, with 53.79 points; Bong Grueso, special weapons and tactics, 47.71; Roderic Grueso, disaster management, 46.85; Jose Alquizar, patrol division, 45.83; Nomer Benitez, traffic, 45.08; Lourdesito Cabalo, special reaction, 44.46; and Jomar Ebardo, law enforcement academy, with 42.52 points.
The competition, Maddela said, follows rules of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), and aims to develop the individual character of each SBMA-LED personnel.
Maddela has urged all SBMA-LED officers to continually practice and participate in this exercise to hone their skills in reacting to every possible armed threat.
“When the officer has an intimate knowledge of his gun and knows his capability of using it — you have an effective police officer in the streets,” Maddela said.
He added that police visibility in Subic, which will now be complemented by dead-strike shooting accuracy, will further disappoint unlawful elements from pulling their tricks here.
“Security is one of the SBMA’s greatest assets — it draws in investors,” stressed Maddela, who became an avid shooter since he joined the Philippine Practical Shooting Association in 1981.
Maddela, who founded the Aurora Practical Shooting Association (APSA) during his term as police commander in the Aurora province, said he saw that shooting competitions develop self-confidence, boosts camaraderie, and relaxes stressed law enforcers.
“This is hitting many birds with one stone, so wherever I was assigned, I set up gun clubs,” he said.
“Know your men, know your enemy, and you will not fear a hundred battles,” he said, quoting a line from Sun Tzu’s “Art of War”. (SBMA Corporate Communications)
PHOTO CAPTION:
A member of the SBMA police hones his shooting skills.
0 comments:
Post a Comment