Saturday, September 6, 2008

Civilians & concealed carry


Pictured here is a modified gameboy advance sp system with a gps cartridge module, PTD(Personal tracking device) also an mp3 & video player w/ 1.2mp camera, and lastly my favorite firearm for personal concealed carry, the Sig Sauer P228.
Being retired now, I never show, or let anyone see or even a hint when I carry my other half(P228) with me. Reason for these, is simply to prevent unecessary events or attract hostilities etc al. What is important when you have an encounter is the element of surprise. Difference with a law enforcer is, officers try to assess if there is immediate threat before shooting but with weapon ready and already pointed to a suspected culprit and asked to surrender. While with civilians, its always important that the unsuspecting threat don't know you have a weapon, and its vital that you've practice the quick drawing of your weapon and shoot. For example; in a situation where there is immediate threat, as a civilian, we've already assessed there is eminent danger in our life, possession, or love ones, so when the culprit tries and make just a mere action of retrieving or using a weapon, we quickdraw our weapon and shoot! No more negotiations unlike with law enforcers, because we've analyzed the situation is uncontrollable and there is immediate threat. Now remember, distance is our friend, whenever we draw our weapon, don't just stand in your current position, sidestep then shoot. Why? This buys you time and puts you out of his direct line of sight(aiming position) while he's adjusting, you've already got him. So its very important to practice, practice, practice. Try to acquire tactical training videos and practice them. Being accurate and a fast drawer is worthless if you don't have the necessary techniques. Time and distance is the key to survival, they will be your valuable friends if you use them wisely. Always train to achieve confidence & the movements will be instinctively embedded in you.
As for safety in your house, try to teach every member of your family where its hidden, it's operation, and dangers if not used properly. Knowledge deficiency is dangerous, so teach them how it operates and not to play with with. Remember, what you learn from gun clubs, never point the gun/rifle on something you don't want destroyed! Take note of the word used, DESTROY!

How to conceal your firearm? Do your own research, depends on what you wear on that particular day, and where you feel confident. But never put them on your pants waist garter or pocket slots with other items. Also the size of your firearm is one factor on how you could conceal it, small revolvers can be concealed on you leg if you're wearing long pants but takes time to draw it. If you like carrying around backpacks or belt-bags, modify them to suit your needs. For me, belt-bags are the best, you could have it custom made to have a hidden but easy to access section for quick drawing your weapon.

But for me, I like using a belt-bag, mine is custom made and have two way direction holsters so whether I put my belt-bag on the back or front, I could easily make the draw. Also, one thing I like with my P228 is, I don't turn on the safety, I'm very confident of it's safety mechanism. And its an SA/DA firearm, but i prefer it cocked and ready to fire, because for me, I would only draw my weapon when there is immediate threat, and consequently fire whenever I draw my weapon. Never show your weapon, kaduwagan lng yun at mainit pa sa mga mata. It sometimes even attracts kaguluhan kaya tago nyo lang yan. Guns are for protection only and not for scaring or showing off, or trying to intimidate people, wag ninyo gamitin yang panakot, nagpapakita ka lang na natatakot ka kaya ka naglalabas ng ganyan. If you don't need to carry your gun, just leave it in your house, besides, magastos din ang permit to carry. Unless you've applied for military intelligence or nbi confidential agents. Its important that you have the necessary LEGAL papers for carrying around your gun. Remember practice is the key, dry firing a gun doesn't do any damage to a firearm, so always practice. Join gun clubs, and always go to a firing range for practicing accuracy, speed & to build confidence. Lastly, be a responsible gun owner.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Good Job Men!

Congratulations brothers in arms. In just a few years, SRs (scout rangers) has greatly reduced the numbers & activities of the rebels in the Southern Tagalog Regions mainly in the Quezon Province area. Several years ago, the NPA rebels been actively executing scare tactics, creating havoc on the community, extortion, sabotaging infrastructures, and ambushing army personnel as a means to acquire additional equipments & gather information. Some suspected leaders are now under surveillance and most of them are not in the mountainous areas anymore, but in the urban areas. Sadly, some civilians, victims of these extortionist never tell the authorities, so, we can't investigate these people, unless they fully support us, yet they can't because they might endanger their lives for giving such information. These rebels usually ask for money, rations like sacks of rice, canned goods and soaps. Also, they tend to interfere with domestic affairs, like family problems, but dealing with them by use of force, even killing people if they want to. This is the reason why some people tend to somehow indirectly support them. Also, because of them, progress in a municipality is pulled to a snail paced growth, they scare the developers & investors. For example, they bombed the smart telecommunications tower because they werent able to collect revolutionary tax from the company. Communications is good for an isolated municipality, thru communications, businesses grow fast, commodities are sold, delivered faster, transactions made easier.

But I advise you men, always be vigilant, the enemies strike when you think they are gone. Also there are reports of some units associated with crimes, not yet clear if lost units or AWOL but hired to do some things you know what. Also when outside the barracks socializing, take note of the area you've been. Try to know who owns the establishment, relatives of the owner, etc. Not all clubs are not created equal, there are clubs that are partly owned by our fellow officer, so this area might not pose any risk in the lives of our brothers. Also please, never ever sell or pawn not issued firearms, its like handing out weapons to a possible hostile individual, posing a possible risk in our flanks. Distance yourself from people like relatives of former government officials who thinks they're very powerful still and influential, yet on the contrary, they're not, only because they own a cache/armory of lost firearms/rifles, and large number of family relatives. Some of them are linked with the NPAs based on our intelligence report, for example, prostitution or just having GROs in the club are prohibited by the NPAs yet why are some still allowed? When authorities are not on alert, usually, you could see them carrying firearms concealed yet still noticeable for the trained eye.

The PNPs are outnumbered and like imbeciles in areas like Pitogo, San Isidro, Mulanay, so don't rely on them for assurance that possible hostilities won't be carrying a weapon or two.

Strike Musangs!!!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Peace in Mindanao?

Could there be peace in Muslim Mindanao? As a veteran in Mindanao, I witnessed land grabbing, violent domestic arguments between both islam believers and even muslims over christians. For christians, what they can't resolve, they just put faith in their god to help them. As for muslims, if somethings gone wrong and their god can't help them, they will ask their god to guide them to instill or execute what's needed to be done to correct the situation for example declaring jihad or holy war. This is the reason there will never be peace in mindanao, specially when a province/region want to have their own government system. Killing is allowed in islam unlike the true teachings for christians. For christians, if situations can't be controlled they allow the government to control them, as for islam, they will put the law in their own hands with the help of their god. MOA should be studied carefully before it's passed. And if the leader of the MILF can't control their subordinates, MILF group should be obliterated. Each members of those milf lost units have their own interest and agenda, therefore, chaos & turmoil burst in the Mindanao areas. All citizens, no matter what religion should abide by the laws of a one governing body to maintain peace and order. The current president has shown her leadership qualities and should make a stand and end the turmoil in the islamic regions. All citizens should follow and respect the Philippine constitution whoever your god is and whatever your beliefs are.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Suffering Philippine movie industry


The Philippine movie industry is suffering from losses due to proliferation of pirated vcd/dvds. Higher taxes imposed on producers adds consequences to the outcome of films produced, quality are sometimes compromised. Movies aren't made for the masses, the cost of watching a movie in the malls could be better expended for rations. I asked one buyer of pirated dvds and looked what he bought, I saw a lot of Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., he said..."Hanga ako sobra kay Bong Revilla, idol ka yan si Kap, gwapo pati tulad ko!". Then I replied, "Talaga? Binoto mo ba sya?" He answered "Oo naman, isa ako sa madami niyang tagahanga." After that, I walked around the Caloocan LRT Northmall, and saw so many shops selling pirated optical media ranging from personal computer softwares, games, games consoles cd/dvds, and of course movies from local & foreign industries. Its a pirates haven ikanga. You name it, they have it, and saw more of the Senator's movies. After I left the area, a question crossed my mind, did this senator do anything to thwart or at least passed a bill to heavily punished the sellers/owners of the stall from different establishments. He can't event stop the piracy of his own movies. Shame on you Mr. Senator! Even tried to put blame on the former Chairman Edu Manzano for not doing his job. Here is a sample of the pirated movies from the guy I interviewed.