If you are in the Philippines, in trouble, and need someone to shoot straight, do not ask the police.
In another embarrassing setback for the country's much-maligned force, a Manila police chief this week asked his officers to re-aquaint themselves with the art of using a gun. He found most of them could not hit the proverbial barn door.
Senior Superintendent Avelino Razon said that most of the officers who took the gun test failed. Some did not even hit the target. The flunkers included a number of senior police officials, who 'scored well below the passing mark'.
Superintendent Razon, who last year ordered compulsory ballroom dancing sessions to improve officer morale, ordered all 3,336 men in the Manila force to undergo a firearms proficiency test.
After two days of firing, said Superintendent Razon, things did not look so good. 'It is true. Of the 76 officers who turned up during the first two days, only three did well enough to pass.' He said the rest would have to undergo repeated firearms training until they prove they are good enough to be let loose with a gun.
However, the hapless officers have received support from an unexpected quarter. Inspector Jaime Santiago, chief of the force's Special Weapons and Tactics Division (SWAT), said the test might have been too hard.
Inspector Santiago, who has ended a number of hostage situations with a bullet through the hostage-taker's forehead, said he took the test and only managed to score 123. 'The highest score in this test is 150, so there is no doubt it is difficult,' said the man known as 'Sharpshooter'.