Lacson wants PNP to impose stricter gun control measures

Senator Panfillo Lacson over the weekend called on the Philippine National Police to impose stricter gun control measures to stop criminality, following recent incidents involving off-duty policemen killing civilians, which the PNP has written off as isolated cases.

Lacson said policemen should turn in their issued firearms to their units’ armorer or supply office when on off-duty, and should not be issued permits to carry firearms outside residences (PTCORs) while still active in service.

“The shooting incidents involving policemen not on duty — such as Jonel Nuezca in December 2020 and Hensie Zinampan earlier this year — should serve as a valuable lesson to us,” the lawmaker said in an statement to media.

Nuezca  was caught on video fatally shooting his neighbors Sonya Rufino Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony during a heated argument in Paniqui, Tarlac in December. He pleaded not guilty to murder charges, and has since been removed from service.

Zinampan was also caught on video killing Lilibeth Valez in Barangay Greater Fairview in Quezon City last month. He has also since been removed from service and also faces murder charges.

On the other hand, the PNP has also been overseeing the bloody campaign against illegal drugs civilians have been killed in the crossfires, which the government considers as "collateral damage."

Warning vs. arming civilian volunteers

In the same statement, Lacson — who headed the PNP from 1999 to 2001 — warned that issuing firearms to anti-crime volunteers to help enforce the law could result in even more crime especially if abused.

“If our law enforcers that are supposed to be trained are prone to lapses, how much more for untrained civilians?” he said.

“Arming civilians to fight criminality could backfire, especially if they don’t have the proper training and mindset. In the United States, there have been so many fatal shootings due to loose firearm laws,” he added.

According to Lacson, PTCFORs should only be issued to those who pass requirements including gun safety seminars, practical and neuro-psyhciatric tests, and personal appearance of the applicants.

“My idea was after much-improved law enforcement and peace and order, the only ones authorized to carry firearms outside their residences are uniformed police and military personnel on official mission. Anybody, including PNP officers not in police uniform, must be assumed to have criminal intent and apprehended on the spot,” he said.

“It’s time the public developed a different mindset and assumption on people seen carrying firearms,” he added.

Lacson cited other areas such as Hong Kong where residents automatically report to the police any civilian seen carrying firearms in public, which he said should only be for self-defense against intruders and should be kept at home. —LBG, GMA News