By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

Police officers are mandated to undergo annual firearm re-certification training to update their proficiency in handling their weapons and equipment, but the Department of Public Safety lacks certified instructors for this training.
In the past, DPS had two certified instructors — Officers Jason Tarkong and David Hosono.
But Capt. Lawrence Camacho said Tarkong and Hosono’s certification has expired, and they need to be certified again which requires funding DPS doesn’t have.
Tarkong and Hosono need to complete firearm training in the U.S. to be certified firearm instructors, Camacho said in a phone interview.
“We’re looking forward to having them certified again so that we can conduct firearm re-certification training here but the problem is we don’t have funding for that right now,” said Camacho, who is the officer-in-charge of the department’s records, firearms and armory section.
The re-certification is done annually in May or June, and consists of a day-long activity held at the shooting range in Marpi.
All DPS personnel who carry firearms are required to undergo this training which tests their proficiency in handling their weapons, Camacho said.
Nobody is certified yet for this year, he added.