Malabon barangay cracks down on pellet guns

Barangay personnel and local police on Tuesday confiscated and destroyed pellet guns in Malabon as these were causing children to be out amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to Cedric Castillo’s report on “24 Oras,” Barangay Catmon officials immediately confiscated pellet guns found in stores in the area following an ordinance from the Malabon City Government

“Maraming beses na kaming nag-warning pati sa social media, sa Facebook page ko, sa Facebook page ng Barangay Catmon,” Barangay Captain Brian Manapat said.

“Kasama na rin kasi sa health protocols ‘yon. Talagang pinagbabawalan natin lumabas talaga ‘yung mga bata. Nagiging cause ng paglabas nila ito, eh, ‘yung nagbabarilan ng pellet guns,” he added.

Meanwhile, some sellers lamented the confiscation of the toys while others were happy with the decision.

“Maganda po ‘yun. Kung gagawan ng barangay dito sa Malabon, Catmon, better. Kasi matatakot ang bata just in case hahanapin sila,” a seller said.

No less than 300 pellet guns have been confiscated by the barangay.

The barangay also admitted that many residents were still asking for the pellet guns, leading them to destroy these so it will no longer be used.

“Maraming nanghihingi pa rin sana dahil pang baril daw sana sa mga daga. Hindi na ako pumayag. Lahat ‘yon dudurugin po namin. Naka post din po sa Facebook ‘yun sir,” Manapat said.

Manapat, meanwhile, bought the pellet guns from residents who have already bought them.

However, he said that he will no longer buy pellet guns as he no longer had money.

“More or less mga P10,000 mahigit na siguro or P20,000 mga ganon. Pero for this day, sinabihan ko na sila, starting today, huli na lahat ‘yon, confiscated na kahit doon sa nagtitinda,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government confirmed that local government units had the authority to pass such ordinances.

“So long as there is an ordinance duly approved by the by the LGU banning the sale and use of pellet guns, the same can be confiscated by the authorities,” DILG undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said.

“The ordinance, of course, can be questioned before the courts but absent any finding by a competent court to the contrary, the ordinance must be respected and can be implemented,” he added. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News