The decision to do away with the practice of muzzling police officers' guns for the holiday season continues this year, the Philippine National Police said on Wednesday.

"We received instruction from Maj. Gen. Francisco (PNP Director for Operations) based on the guidance of  Chief PNP Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. that we will implement what we have done in previous years which was proven effective," PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo told reporters in a press conference at Camp Crame Wednesday.

"We would like to take this opportunity to remind all our PNP personnel to refrain from using their guns in welcoming the New Year," she added.

Fajardo said that the practice of gun muzzling might hamper police response.

She said that based on the record of illegal discharge of firearms in 2021 recorded 25 incidents with one injured while in 2022, 26  incidents with 10 injured  while stray bullet incidents has 11 injured in 2021 and 12 in 2023.

The PNP's gun muzzling tradition for the yearend revelry was first stopped in 2016, under then PNP chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa.