The Philippine National Police (PNP) is pushing for a permanent total gun ban, noting a marked decline in the crime rate since its implementation on Jan.10, GMA News' Unang Balita reported Wednesday. Presidential front-runner Sen. Benigno Aquino III, however, seemed unimpressed by such a move.
Nearly 3,000 people, including over 200 government employees, were arrested since the Commission on Elections ordered it in place ban from Jan. 10 to June 9.
In a radio interview, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina said the Philippine National Police would hold a stakeholders’ summit on the proposals for civilians' "responsible gun ownership." "We have to take into account, compare [the] country with other countries that practically have no firearms, like Japan," Espina told radio dzXL Wednesday.
But a permanent gun ban may not be that easy. Aquino, who does target shooting, is not keen on endorsing the proposal. "It's a nice imagery for you to say total gun ban, where nobody has guns, but there is a fine print: Nobody who follows the laws will have guns," Aquino said. Filipino gun owners in the country are likewise divided on the issue. "Wala kaming tutol sa mga taong responsible na magkaroon ng baril sa bahay for protection kung gusto nila. Ang tinututulan natin ay ang pagdadala ng baril sa pampublikong lugar ng mga taong hindi naka-uniporme o naka-duty, (We have no obejctions to responsible people keeping guns in their houwse for protection. What we object to is the carrying of guns in public places by people in civilian clothes or those off duty)" Nancy Pacheco of the Gunless Society of the Philippines said in an interview on Unang Balita.
The group had been pushing for a total ban in public places but without succeeding so far, according to the report. The Peaceful Responsible Owners of Guns (Progun), on the other hand, is saying that a total gun ban would be impractical. "A total gun ban is unrealistic and not feasible within the Philippines. The [country] suffers from rampant crime in the form of robberies and thefts, kidnapping, drug-related violence, terrorism in the south, Communist insurgency, and political and profession-related killings," the group said in a statement.
By Nikka Corsino/RSJ/VS
