Amid outrage over Paniqui shooting, Lacson eyes ban on permits-to-carry for cops' personal guns

Senator Panfilo Lacson is considering a measure that will ban the chief of the Philippine National Police from issuing permits to carry firearms outside of residence for guns personally owned by police officers.

Lacson made the suggestion on an episode of The Mangahas Interviews amid the outrage caused by a policeman's shooting to death of a mother and son in Paniqui, Tarlac over the weekend.

"Dahil ino-authorize naman tayo na mag-possess ng personal firearms, ang isang magandang policy na recommendation sa PNP ay official firearm lang ang puwedeng gamitin nila sa labas ng kanilang mga tahanan kung sila ay naka-on duty status," said Lacson, a former chief of the PNP.

"Ngayon hindi naman para pagbawalan sila na mag-possess ng personal firearms pero yung defensive ang pag-possess ng firearms, meaning dapat nasa loob lang ng bahay," he added.

"At habang nasa active service, ang naiisip kong ipanukala, huwag silang bigyan ng chief PNP ng permit to carry firearms outside residence. Nang sa ganoon, maiwasan," Lacson said.

"Kasi alam mo, iba 'yung lakas ng loob lalo na kung ang training mo eh pagiging isang pulis o isang sundalo. Iba 'yung lakas ng loob at iba 'yung takbo ng utak kapag alam mong may nakasukbit kang baril sa iyong baywang," he added.

Paranaque policeman Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca on Sunday afternoon shot and killed mother and son Sonya and Frank Anthony Gregorio in Barangay Cabayaoasan, Paniqui.

The shooting was reportedly triggered by an altercation between the families of the policeman and the victims.

Nuezca was indicted on Monday for double murder. -NB, GMA News