PNP Chief Versoza gives his qualified support to shotguns

By October 21, 2008Headlines, News

DON’T VIOLATE FIREARMS LAW!

POLICE Director General Jesus Verzosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has backed up the distribution of shotguns by the provincial government to the province’s barangay chairmen (kapitans) but qualified that there should be no violation of the firearms law.

Interviewed by newsmen when he came over Friday to preside over the laying of corner stone and the groundbreaking of a proposed state-of- the-art station of the Dagupan Police, Verzosa said if there is already violation of the firearms law, then the police should intervene.

Verzosa was accompanied to Dagupan by Police Regional Director Luizo Ticman and Police Provincial Director Percival Barba, after being honored by the Pangasinan Provincial government led by Governor Amado Espino Jr.

He came along with many of the police generals who are from Pangasinan, including Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, director of the Manila Police District, who is an adopted son of Dagupan, having been chief of police of Dagupan for two times, at whose administration the Dagupan Police was adjudged as the best city police station nationwide three times.

The others generals were Dante Ferrer, director for intelligence, from Calasiao; Silverio Alarcio, director for operations, Laoac; Leopoldo Bataoil, director for Police Community Relations, Lingayen; Romeo Hilomen, director for comptrollership, Calasiao; Conrado Laza, deputy regional director, Alcala; Federico Terte, deputy director PRO7.

The other generals from Pangasinan are Police Deputy Director General Ismael Rafanan of Villasis, deputy chief PNP for operations; Ray Roderos of Bautista, director for research and development; and Ronald Roderos, also of Bautista, PRO7 director; and Florencio Caccam Jr., director for firearms and explosives ordnance.

“As I said in an earlier interview, the maintenance of peace and order, the control of firearms, the control of the overall situation of a locality depend largely on the chief executive and the police forces that are there. It is provided by the PNP law,” Verzosa told newsmen.

It is the chief executive who is in charge in the employment of measures that are needed in the overall campaign against criminality, he added.

Asked if the memorandum receipt issued by the provincial government to the barangay captains is already enough, Verzosa said: “Again as I’ve said, the regulations pertaining to firearms handling and possession should be followed as mandated by the current regulations”.

He said that there are agents of the law who may legally possess and acquire firearms, adding that among these are the kapitans.

Asked if the barangay chairmen need not be given permits to carry firearms as they already possess the MRs, Verzosa said: “They can be given permits to carry also. All personnel, even us, sometimes ask for permits to carry.”

He claimed there were already guidelines issued in the past to this effect. —LM

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