PNP asked to recall order suspending PTCFOR
‘INSANE’ REACTION TO CRIMES
LINGAYEN—It’s wrong and foolish.
This was the sentiment of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) when it passed a resolution asking the Philippine National Police (PNP) last week to rescind or recall the order effectively prohibiting gun owners in the province to carry firearms outside their homes.
The SP approved Resolution No. 620-2014 that expressed “utter displeasure and strong opposition over the issuance of a memorandum of agreement by the PNP Regional Office 1 suspending the Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR) in the province of Pangasinan and urging its immediate rescission and recall.”
It argued that the suspension of PTCFOR will result in the proliferation of loose firearms in Pangasinan “and embolden lawless elements to commit more crimes.”
Last June 13, the PNP issued a memorandum suspending the PTCFOR in Pangasinan, a move that was obviously prompted by Urbiztondo Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr.’s’ killing.
The order is “foolish,” SP member Alfonso Bince Jr. said in an interview, adding that it “will benefit and embolden the lawless elements and hired killers to commit with impunity crimes in the province of Pangasinan. At bakit sa probinsya lang ng Pangasinan? [And why does the order cover only Pangasinan?]”
In his privilege speech, Bince disputed the suspension, pointing out that it was an “insane” reaction to the killing of Urbiztondo town Mayor Ernesto Baloloang Jr. last June 7.
“The PNP memorandum must be immediately rescinded and instread of such knee-jerk move, the PNP must undertake an honest to goodness campaign agains loose firearms, to start in Laoac, Balungao, Aguilar, Tayug, San Nicolas, San Carlos City, Agno, Infanta, and Urbiztondo, where their mayors were assaulted,” Bince said.
His priviledge speech, entitled “Pangasinan mayors–an endangered species?” enumerated several local officials who were killed since 1985 beginning with Mayors Westrimundo Tabayoyong of Laoac on Sept. 6, 1985; Jose Peralta Sr. of Balungao, April 25, 1993; Gil Nava of Aguilar, April 2001; Guerrero Zaragoza of Tayug, June 22, 2003; Conrado Rodrigo of San Nicolas, May 27, 2004; Julian Resuello of San Carlos City, April 28, 2007; Arthur Cabantac of Agno, August 2, 2008; Ruperto Martinez, Dec. 15, 2013 and Balolong of Urbiztondo, June 7, 2014.
Bince, a practicing criminal lawyer for 40 years, said the cases against Tabayoyong and Peralta perpetrated in 1990 and 1993, respectively, might have already reached the 20-year presciption period and no cases have been filed even against suspects and the masterminds.
Instead of suspending the PTCFOR, the PNP and other law enforcement agencies should improve and update their intelligence gathering, operational skills and training of their investigators.
Copies of the resolution were sent to PNP chief General Allan Purisima, PNP-Region 1 director, PNP provincial office officer-in-charge, and to DILG Secretary Mar Roxas.
Bince suggested that if DILG can’t increase the number of policemen in Pangasinan the military must be invited to augment the PNP.
DAGUPAN REACTS
Barring firearms brings bad image for Dagupan City
In Dagupan, a city councilor said that disallowing gun owners to carry their firearms outside their homes projects a bad image for the city.
The suspension of PTCFOR is normally only enforced during election period or martial law, said city councilor Jose Netu Tamayo.
In his priviledge speech, which was read by his “Manlingkor a Kalangweran” (young city official’s) counterpart Austin Lloyd Catap, Tamayo expressed his lament over the suspension of PTCFOR by the PNP last June 13.
“I stand here for the responsible gun owners who were saddened by the suspension of PTCFOR as the killings and shootings are not their fault,” said Tamayo.
“It is unfair since (civilians) become defenseless against lawless elements,” said Tamayo in an interview.
Tamayo said he will file a a resolution asking the PNP to recall the suspension order this week.
For its part, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that its 48 stations in Pangasinan had already conducted 6,932 house visits that checked for firearms, P/Sr. Supt. Sterling Raymund Blanco, officer-in-charge police director, said.
Eleven firearms had been confiscated for violation of the holders under Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition), Blanco said.
However, he refused to comment on Bince’s statements. – LVM, Johanne R. Macob and Hilda M. Austria)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
