KAPITANS’ SHOTGUNS

LINGAYEN–The more than 1,300 shotguns issued by the provincial government to barangay leaders during Gov. Amado Espino Jr.’s first year in office now kept in police stations for safekeeping, could be returned to the kapitans provided terms under the new law on firearms ownership are compied with.

The shotguns were deposited in the police stations in the 47 towns and cities during the election period in 2013 until the barangay election that year and have since remained there.

P/Sr. Supt. Sterling Raymund Blanco, officer-in-charge of the Police Provincial Office (PPO), said the continued safekeeping of the shotguns by the police is justified, but at the same time he cited the circumstances and new terms under which the firearms owned by the provincial government can be returned to the barangay kapitans as defined in Republic Act 10591.

P/Chief Inspector Stephen Bodong, legal officer of the PPO, said the new law specifies certain conditions to be complied with by the barangays even as he confirmed that the applications for licenses for the  shotguns have been forwarded to Camp Crame.

NEW REQUIREMENT

Bodong stressed the need for a resolution from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) turning over these shotguns to the barangays.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) previously signed by provincial government, the PPO and the Liga ng mga Barangay then represented by SP Member Amadeo Espino alone does not suffice under RA 10591.

Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. acknowledged that some of the barangay chairmen to whom the shotguns were issued have either retired, were not re-elected or already died.

Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, SP presiding officer, has directed SP Secretary Verna Perez and Provincial Legal Officfer Geraldine Baniqued  to coordinate with Bodong for the drafting of the resolution transferring the shotguns to the barangays.

The barangays also need to secure a license as a juridical entity, according to Bodong.

The SP expressed the need to return the shotguns to the barangays in view of the admission of Blanco that shooting as well as robbery incidents in the past five months have increased.

There were 106 shooting incidents recorded from January to May, at least 35 of which were perpetrated by motorcycle-riding criminals (MRCs).–LVM

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments