Gun ban and beyond

POLICE authorities, led by the provincial director, Senior Superintendent Percival Barba, did not really have to wait for the election-related gun ban to recall the shotguns distributed by the provincial government to the barangay kapitans.

Nonetheless, the recall of the shotguns, which was announced Monday last week following the start of the gun ban on January 10, is prudent and well about time.

The provincial government, which approved the budget for the purchase of these shotguns last year and with Gov. Amado Espino himself distributing these to the kapitans during ceremonies where the media was invited, has disengaged itself from the matter, pointing out that after the signing of the supplemental agreement transferring the ownership of the shotguns to the barangays as a grant from the province, the shotguns have ceased to be properties of the province. Under the Memorandum of Agreement between the barangays and the police, the shotguns are properties of the barangays while the police is tasked with operational supervision in the utilization, maintenance and retrieval of the shotguns. The MOA, as clarified only rcently, also specifically stipulates that the guns should be recalled by the police during election season.

And so the police now hold full responsibility for these controversial weapons, some of which have been mishandled by kapitans who have used these in situations outside the supposed terms for keeping peace and order in their respective communties.

By now, a week after Barba’s recall announcement, the 1,330 shotguns should already be in police possession and under safekeeping. And Barba — ideally in consultation with his bosses, local government officials and the public — has got five months to earnestly consider whether these shotguns should be returned to the barangays after the election gun ban expires on June 9. With communication lines between barangay officials and the police now improved through a radio system that was also funded by the provincial government, assistance could be delivered faster and there is no need really to be putting weapons in the hands of people who are not really trained to handle these.

Meanwhile, the gun ban issue should also alert communities to be aware of the Commission on Election rule that all detailed police and military security must be in uniform and no armed security detail should accompany a politician at anytime. Violations should be reported.

To achieve strict compliance, candidates themselves can use a reported violation by another candidate as a campaign issue, i.e., point out that if the violating politician can’t comply with the election rules, how can he or she be expected to comply with rules on good governance?

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