DMMMSU Government Guard Unit held 2-day marksmanship training for security personnel in the Mid-La Union Campus and at the Star Shooter Firing Range in San Vicente, City of San Fernando, La Union on December 28 and 29, respectively.

On the first day of the training, lectures and demonstrations were focused on the Four Cardinal Rules of Gun Safety, Firearm Care and Maintenance, Firearm Assembly and Disassembly, Range Safety,  and Proper Shooting Stance, and Proper Gripping of Pistols.

Originally, only 3-4 hours was set for gun safety training; however, their trainer, Retired Police Major Edmund R. Delfin, noticed that the service firearms that were brought to the venue were not properly maintained. He mused that the participants needed refresher training on field stripping and reassembly of pistol. He elucidated the importance of knowledge and skills in disassembly and assembly of firearms.

Retired PMajor Delfin was the Team Leader of Regional Mobile Force Battalion of PNP Regional Office- I for being a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics. He was also a SWAT trainer, firearms instructor, sniper, Certified Defense Tactics Trainer in Arnis and Combat Karate for attaining 2^nd degree Black belt in Shorin-ryu, a variation of Shotokan-ryu (Japanese martial arts). In addition, he has served as a trainer at the Philippine Safety Colleges/ PNP Regional Training Center in Aringay, La Union for several years.

Also on the first day, all participants including Mr. Napoleon Valeriano M. Cayabyab, University Security Officer, underwent actual test on disassembly and assembly of Model 1911 pistols.

Before the actual marksmanship training took place at the range on the 2^nd day, Police Major Delfin had conducted a short briefing and recap on range safety. The participants were divided into two groups, one of which was handled by Major Delfin, and the other group was under Ms. Rose Advincula, a member of the National Range Officers Institute, Range Master and Manager of Star Shooter Firing Range. Ms. Advincula was assisted by participants who had their Range Officers Training Course in September 2021. On the other hand, Major Delfin was alternately assisted by participants and by Mr. Napoleon Valeriano M. Cayabyab.

Six full-size caliber 9mm pistols were used in the actual shooting and evaluation wherein each participant was graded based on the hit marks that a shooter makes on his individual target paper. Out of the 94 shooters, 18 qualified for the 2^nd elimination round and each shooter was matched with another participant from another operating unit. Three pairs qualified for the quarter-finals: Rodolfo Agas, Jr. (NLUC) vs. Errol James Eslava (CA), Darwin Almojuela (SRDI) vs. James I. Manuel (NLUC), and Dominador Agasen (SLUC) vs. Marnelie V. Hufalar (NLUC). In the said pairing match, Eslava, Almojuela, and Hufalar won over their respective competitors.

Errol James N. Eslava became the overall champion after defeating Hufalar, who was the first champion in the female category. Hufalar was the 1^st runner-up in the overall ranking, and Darwin Almojuela was the 2^nd runner-up. Trophies and certificates will be presented during the awards ceremony in January.

After the training, Major Delfin debriefed the participants and congratulated them and the unit for the safe conduct of the training. No accident or near-miss incident happened. He emphasized the importance of constant awareness on gun safety and the four cardinal rules of gun safety throughout their career and throughout their lives.

“As I have said, akala ko walang laman kills a man,” Major Delfin concluded. (Tristan Arcano)