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	Arroyo 'Resolves' Lack of Guns for Cops Sun.Star [Philippines] June 21, 2006 http://www.sunstar.com.ph/blogs/citizenwatch/?p=544 President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dealt with the PNP's firearms shortage problem by imposing her own computations on PNP Chief Arturo Lomibao, the same way she did to acting Education Secretary Fe Hidalgo over the classroom shortage This was shortly after the presentation of police officers who rescued kidnap victim Sonia Lim Sanchez and Lomibao's update on how the police is spending the P1 billion that Arroyo ordered released for the agency's needs. This was held at the Presidential Security Group (PSG) compound. Lomibao said the PNP has earmarked P151 million to buy handguns or Glock and Taurus pistols and long firearms for policemen who do not have firearms. He said the police have issued handguns to 96,714 out of about 118,000 policemen. He said if the 5,881 handguns that the PNP bought would be delivered, it would translate to a fill-up rate of 86 percent or a shortage of 16,357. He also said if the PNP buys an average of 5,000 handguns a year, the shortage of pistols would be covered in about three years. According to the PNP's statistics, only 62,270 policemen have long firearms and that 55,925 do not have them. The PNP has ordered 757 long arms. Total shortage was placed at 72,282. Arroyo told Lomibao that by combining the total short and long firearms by the end of the delivery, the shortage would be fully covered and every PNP officer would have a gun, whether it is long or short. "In other words, before you give a second firearm per policeman, make sure that all policemen get one firearm each," she said. Lomibao said he will comply with Arroyo's orders, especially since not all policemen are entitled to long firearms and that they are distributed only to policemen assigned in insurgent-affected areas. "That's the way to cover a shortfall. All right. Okay. Good. Good. If you do that then every policeman will have a firearm within two months' time," she said. In the case of the classroom shortage, Hidalgo reported to the Cabinet that there is a classroom shortage of 6,832 based on a student-classroom ratio of 45:1 and a single shift per day. Arroyo countered that the shortage was only more than 1,000 in 2004, according to her own figures based on a ratio of 100:1 and two shifts per day. Three hours after she returned to her department to review her figures, Hidalgo told reporters that there is no more shortage based on the President's scenario. Arroyo received flak from those who do not believe that there was no shortage. In the end, Malacanang admitted that there was still a shortage but the education department would determine the actual amount. Lomibao said only 491 of the 5,881 pistols have been delivered and the rest will be given in two months. He said 70 out of the 203 patrol cars. which the PNP bought have been given and the balance will be delivered in 90 days. He said the 3,000 police recruits are undergoing training. He said the hiring of the new policemen cost P406 million, the vehicles about P300 million, the handguns P151 million, and other civil disturbance equipment about P93 million. Lomibao also said the newly delivered guns, patrol cars, and 12 motorcycles would be used first at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Cebu after which they will be distributed in the field units. Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno defended the negotiation of the purchase for the equipment instead of bidding saying there were specifications ordered. He also said the PNP was able to negotiate more than 800 additional handguns instead of just 5,000 and more patrol cars.
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