By LIWAY C. MANANTAN-YPARRAGUIRRE

THIS is an invitation to all women who would like to fire a gun, with or without prior experience at handling that deadly metal.
It is open to gun enthusiasts (lady shooters who are members of gun clubs), policewomen in Pangasinan and other parts of Region 1, lawyers, newshen, members of non-government organizations, etc.

The Kiwanis Club of Dagupeña, Metro Dagupan (which I now lead for the second time), is organizing an All-Women Funshot on December 9 at the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office firing range in Lingayen.

This is in cooperation with Dagupan City Councilor Farah Marie G. Decano, the PPPO through the kindness of Provincial Director Senior Supt. Alan L. Purisima and the Pangasinan Practical Shooters Association Inc. (PSAI).

A registration fee of P350 will be charged each participant. This is inclusive of ammunitions (for the four stages) and certificate of participation. In short, please bring your own baon he he.

Our club’s objectives in holding the activity are: to raise fund for our projects, let other women experience how to hold and actually fire a gun (a clinic on gun safety and proper handling of firearm will be held before the shootfest proper); promote camaraderie among women from different sectors.

Emphasis of course is on responsible gun handling. Our goal is to hold the first-ever shootfest for all the policewomen in Pangasinan. We hope and pray majority, if not all of them, will participate.

Interested parties may contact this writer at 09196371151 or email her at kiwanianliway@yahoo.com) or visit Susan Yadao, project chairman, at Aksyon RAdyo Pangasinan located at 2ND floor of Duque Building, Galvan Street, Dagupan City.
Don’t miss the fun.
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The first time I experienced firing a gun was, I think, five years ago (?) during a Media Funshoot
I was sweet talked by then Supt. Robert “Bob” Aliggayu (he is now senior supt.) who was then the intelligence division chief at the PPPO.
He gave me some pointers and patiently assisted me practice shoot thirty minutes before my actual participation in the competition. It was fun.
*****
Last week was a “whirlwind” week for the police regional director. Aside from visiting police stations, Police Chief Supt. Leopoldo N. Bataoil attended to other activities in the province and in other provinces in Region 1.
Last November 13, he presided over the Inter-Unit Conference at the police regional headquarters in San Fernando, La Union.
Aside from the Police Region 1 directorial staff, in attendance were officers from the CIDG and PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) both from Region 1 and Cordillera. Main agenda was familiarization with each other, proper coordination among units to prevent mis-encounters or mishandled operations.
One big factor that prompted the holding of the Inter-Unit Conference was the incident that happened weeks ago in San Quintin, Pangasinan where four PDEA-Cordillera men were charged for “kidnapping” a suspected drug pusher in the guise of a hot-pursuit operation.
It was found out during the investigation that there was no proper coordination with PDEA-Region 1 nor with the Pangasinan Police Provincial command.
Bataoil said the Inter-Unit Coordinating Conference will be done quarterly.
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Early morning of November 15, he attended the turn-over of the Police Community Precinct (PCP) in barangay Matic-Matic, Sta. Barbara. Right there, he held
a press conference and presented suspect in the killing of a barangay captain in Sual sometime last March.
In the afternoon, he was at the turn-over of command at the Lingayen Police Station. Supt. Rodolfo S. Lomibao, former PCR officer, succeeded Supt. Ricardo C. Zapata who served as police chief for two years and eight months. He later proceeded to Alaminos City.
Just like what he said before, Bataoil wants his men to feel his presence and experience working closely with him.