Lacson wants stricter gun-control measures
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately impose stricter gun control measures, and even suspend Permits to Carry Firearms Outside Residences (PTCFORs) in the wake of recent murders which were committed with impunity.
Lacson, who heads the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, made the call following the killing of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and former Kadingilan, Bukidnon Mayor Joelito Talaid, within hours of each other on Saturday.
The former PNP chief also said he will call for a public hearing on the spate of killings, including those of prominent personalities, next month, when the Senate resumes sessions in January 14, 2019.
“At the rate murder is being committed with impunity, it’s time for the PNP to impose stricter gun control measures. For a start, try suspending all PTCFOR’s. Anybody in civvies carrying firearms must be assumed to have criminal intent and apprehended on the spot,” said Lacson, who headed the PNP from 1999 to 2001.
He said the policy should also include PNP officers who are not in police uniform: “Anybody, including PNP officers not in police uniform must be assumed to have criminal intent and apprehended on the spot.”
“It’s time the public developed a different mindset and assumption on people seen carrying firearms,” said the senator on his Twitter account.
The lawmaker noted Batocabe, who is running for mayor of Daraga, Albay in the upcoming May 2019 elections, was the first incumbent or sitting lawmaker who was killed in recent memory.
“This all the more needs urgent or even 'unpopular' measures by authorities, including very strict gun control measures,” he said.
On Saturday morning, former Kadingilan, Bukidnon Mayor Joelito "Jukens" Talaid was also gunned down by motorcycle-riding killers in Cagayan de Oro City.
According to Lacson, the PNP should have considered enforcing stricter firearms control strategies since July 2018 following the killing of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili last July 2.
Aside from Batocabe, Talaid and Halili, Lacson said his panel will also look into the killing of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija, Mayor Ferdinand Bote, who was shot dead inside his vehicle in an ambush (July 3); radio anchor Joey Llana, who was gunned down by men with automatic firearms in Daraga, Albay, while on his way to work (July 20); lawyer Rafael Atotubo, 62, gunned down in Bacolod City by motorcycle-riding assailants (Aug. 24); former barangay councilor Pepe Baccay, gunned down in Tumauini town in Isabela province (Aug. 25); Ricardo Aparicio, husband of Clarin (Bohol) Vice Mayor Velden Aparicio (Sept. 2); and Ronda (Cebu) Mayor Mariano Blanco III, killed gangland-style by armed men who barged into his office while he was sleeping there (Sept. 5).