I don't usually post a lot about firemen but it seems firemen have been behaving rather silly recently. First there was the fireman who killed his colleague in a drunken fit at a Christmas party last year. Then there were the firemen who hung a sign on their truck notifying that in case of fire to call someone else because the truck is under repair.
Those same firemen who got into a fight last Christmas, their station is being rebuilt.
There is absolutely nothing silly about a new fire station being built. That's a good thing. But look at the sign that's posted.
"To our valued clients." I don't think I'd call anyone who needs the assistance of firefighters clients. That's what a hairstylists calls the people who she regularly works on. It's just silly. Get rid of the salutation and the sign would be fine. It's a common case of over-politeness. Filipinos are guilty of being overly polite to the point of obsequiousness from sales clerks watching your every move to people repeatedly calling you sir.
Perhaps the silliest thing involving firemen is DILG Secretary Año's pledge to arm them on the orders of Duterte.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/725719/ano-says-firefighters-must-have-firearms-this-year/story/ |
"Maintaining law and order is not an easy task. Despite the decreasing crime rate in the country, having the BFP's firefighters in our peace and order campaign is a boost and welcome addition in ensuring a safe and secure country," Año said.
He further said arming the BFP personnel was in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's previous directive of "engaging the help of the BFP to maintain law and order and not to limit themselves to fire-fighting."
"The BFP also does law enforcement functions because they enforce the Fire Code so they already have some experience in this regard," Año said.
"The BFP can help ensure public safety, as a support to the PNP (Philippine National Police) and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) but of course, their primary responsibility is still preventing and suppressing fire and enforcement of the Fire Code," he added.
According to Año, the firefighters will be armed with 9mm pistols, adding that the BFP already requested funds from the Department of Budget and Management to finance the purchase of the said weapons.
Prior to the issuance of firearms, firefighters will undergo marksmanship and gun safety training, Año ensured.
Pretty silly, huh? More like downright stupid. What ridiculous reasoning.
"The BFP also does law enforcement functions because they enforce the Fire Code so they already have some experience in this regard," Año said.
Every government agency is tasked with enforcing laws. Why not arm agents of the BIR, the BuCor, the DFA, or how about about Forest Rangers?
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1829982 |
Cimatu then called on lawmakers to pass a measure that would establish an enforcement bureau within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and an enabling law that would authorize forest enforcers to carry firearms.
Cimatu, a former chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), had been appalled by the brutal death of a forest ranger from Nueva Ecija who died two days after he was shot several times by an unknown assailant.
Forest Ranger Ronaldo Corpuz, who was assigned at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in the municipality of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Corpuz was shot by an unidentified assailant while he was closing the gate of their house around 7:35 p.m. of October 25. He was declared dead on October 27 at the Premier Hospital in Cabanatuan City.
Prior to his death, Corpuz, together with members of Bantay Gubat, conducted a surveillance operation against timber poaching and illegal transport of forest products in Barangay Portal in Rizal town on October 22.
Illegal loggers pose a deadly thereat to forest rangers. Several have been killed in recent years. As for firefighters, there was an incident in 2015 when firefighters were attacked by those they were helping.
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| https://www.manilatimes.net/2015/03/18/news/national/2-die-in-malabon-fire-firemen-attacked/170304/170304/ |
A still undetermined number of firefighters were injured, some allegedly stabbed after some irate residents allegedly assaulted them at the height of the fire.
Volunteer firefighters had to withdraw from the area after residents started pelting them with rocks, which broke their firetruck’s windshield.
Responding firemen explained that they were hampered by residents who swooped down on their fire trucks and grabbed the firefighting equipment so they could train the hoses on their houses.
At least no one was killed. The same can't be said for two firemen who were having a drinking spree at a colleague's house.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/09/11/1194521/2-firemen-dead-bataan-shooting |
In a report, Chief Inspector Arnel Dial, Orani police chief, identified the victims as SFO2 Charlie Mendoza, 52, and FO2 Enrico Caraan, firefighters in Dinalupihan and Orani towns, respectively. Wounded was Arlyn Lopez, 47.
Dial said Mendoza and Lopez went to Caraan's house where they had a drinking spree. Mendoza and Lopez later had a verbal tussle, leading to a fistfight.
Dial said Caraan tried to pacify the two, but Mendoza reportedly drew his gun, fired at Caraan and Lopez, and then shot himself in the abdomen.
Drunken firemen killing each other. How is it so many drinking sprees end up in bloodshed in the Philippines? It's not just firemen. It's men from all walks of life. Friends drinking themselves silly and then killing each other is an all too common news story in the Philippines. And to top it all off it seems everyone is either packing heat or a pistol is within easy reach.
How about instead of arming firemen the government provides the proper PPE so they can do their job?
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/08/12/1942614/50-firefighters-dont-have-complete-protective-gear-bfp |
Around 50 percent of firefighters of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) do not have a complete set of personal protective equipment.
BFP spokesman Chief Inspector Jude delos Reyes said yesterday about half of their bureau’s 25,000 personnel risk their lives combating fires without complete protection.
“There are still about 50 percent of the firefighters na hindi kumpleto yun PPE,” he said in an interview over dzBB.
Among these equipment are helmets and boots, said Delos Reyes. Also included as PPEs are respirators, gloves, blankets and gas masks.
The lack of protective equipment is one of the problems which they are hoping will be addressed by the current administration.
The BFP is also short of manpower as it needs around 11,000 firefighters to cover the entire country.
President Duterte earlier said he wants to arm firefighters so they can help fight communist rebels and other lawless elements.
Delos Reyes said Duterte’s statement is a welcome development as they also need to protect themselves during firefighting operations where they deal with uncooperative civilians who would forcibly take their water hoses and use these for themselves.
Duterte wants firemen armed so they can fight commies while the BFP spokesman says civilians who want to commandeer the hose are the bigger threat. Either way without helmets, boots, and gas masks firefighters are unable to do their job. Providing them the proper equipment should be the Duterte administration's priority, not arming them with guns.
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