LINGAYEN—Even with the election gun ban lifted, the barangay chairmen around the province won’t be automatically getting back the shotguns issued to them by the provincial government due to a new law requiring new permits.

Senior Supt. Marlou Chan, police provincial director of Pangasinan, pointed this out in a reply letter to former provincial Liga ng mga Barangay President Amadeo Espino who earlier wrote demanding the return of the firearms surrendered to the police.

Espino, brother Gov. Amado Espino Jr, wrote in his letter dated June 18: “Now that the election is over, and the election gun ban has already been lifted, the undersigned (Espino) respectfully demand the return of the aforementioned shotguns to the custody of the sangguniang barangay through their respective punong barangay”.

Chan explained in his response that while the election period is over and the law on Commission on Elections gun ban has already been lifted, he cited his constraints in returning these owing to the passage of R.A 10591 entitled ‘An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof’

This law, signed by President Benigno Aquino III on May 29, 2013, particularly Section 3 (cc), requires a Short Certificate of Registration (SCR) before a gun can be issued to a government employee who has been given a gun by a government agency employer with a Long Certificate of Registration (LCR).

He also cited Police National Headquarters Memorandum Circular 2012-011 dated Oct. 8, 2012 with subject: Supplemental Guidelines and Procedures for the Implementation of Standard Operating Procedure No. 13 (Licensing of Firearms) lists the requirements for the application of SCR.

Chan said to facilitate the processing of the SCR, he asked that the barangay chairmen to submit all listed requirements set by law.

Espino, now mayor of Bautista town, cited the ownership of the said shotguns was transferred to the different barangays pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement duly entered into by the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, the Philippine National Police through its Provincial Office and the Liga ng mga Barangay Pangasinan Chapter.

The shotguns were surrendered to Chan’s office by the barangay chairmen during the implementation of the election gun ban in line with the May 13 national and local elections.

The kapitans in all barangays of the province, except in Alaminos City, were issued a shotgun each.–Eva Visperas

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