The Philippine National Police (PNP) will not be enforcing its traditional practice of sealing firearms among its ranks this Christmas season and New Year.

According to PNP Spokesperson PBGen. Randulf Tuaño, Acting Chief PLtGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez believes the police will remain professional and refrain from participating in indiscriminate firing, reported RH 52 Edniel Parrosa.

Nartatez reportedly did not include the application of muzzle tape to service firearms in his memorandum, released after an inter-agency meeting with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In relation to this issue, Nartatez tasked the agency’s commanders to resolve future cases of stray bullets within 24 hours.

The PNP earlier warned its personnel of the existing one-strike policy against indiscriminate firing, especially during New Year celebrations.

The agency has been on heightened alert since November, continuing into the holiday season, with 70,000 personnel deployed on alert.

The practice of sealing policemen's guns was last imposed in 2023.