Manila - Almost half the Philippines' police officers have no handguns as they battle rampant crime, a national police official said Thursday.

Chief Superintendent Lani-O Nerez, deputy director for logistics for the Philippine National Police (PNP), said 51,242 out of 125,000 police officers had not been provided handguns due to a shortage in weapons.

He said the PNP has a total of 73,758 short firearms such as pistols and revolvers.

The force has fewer long firearms, with only 58,114 rifles and shotguns, Nerez said.

"Due to inadequate funds to procure firearms, the PNP prioritized issuance of firearms to units and personnel in high-risk areas," he said in a report.

Nerez said the Philippine police also faces a shortage of 12,714 vehicles.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, the national police chief, said the shortages were being addressed by a transformation programme aimed at boosting the force's ability to fight crime.

Crime remains rampant in the Philippines, and is often perpetrated by well-funded syndicates that are equipped with better firearms than police. (dpa)