Comelec mulls perpetual revocation of firearms licenses of gun ban violators

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday it is considering perpetually revoking the firearms licenses of gun ban violators ahead of the May 12 polls.

With this development, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said checkpoints are operating smoothly so far. 

“Lalo na po ang ating pong mga checkpoint at kung mapapansin natin, patuloy po na maayos ang ating mga checkpoints, ginagalang ang mga karapatan ng ating mga kababayan at wala pong paglabag ang ating PNP, AFP, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection at iba pang mga nagmamando dito po sa ating mga checkpoint,” he said in a “Balitanghali” interview.

(Especially at our checkpoints, our operations there are working fine as our law enforcers respect the rights of the public. There’s no report of violations from the personnel of the PNP, AFP, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection who are manning the checkpoints.)

But the poll body chief said there are still people who insist on carrying guns with them despite the ban that started last January 12 and will remain in effect until June 11.

“Sadya lang talagang may mga matitigas ang ulo na alam na nga na bawal kahit meron kang permit to carry o lisensya, suspended ang lahat ng 'yan pero nagdadala pa rin,” said Garcia.

“Siguro nga mas maganda na perpetually tanggalan na sila ng lisensya o permit to carry bilang parusa sa kanila at siguro nga mas maganda rin na habaan na ang parusa laban sa lumalabag nito.”

(There are really hard- headed people who will still carry firearms with them just because they have a permit to carry or a license for the weapon. I think it would be better if we will just perpetually revoke their license or permit to carry as a punishment and it would also be better to prolong the penalty on these violators.)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday that 971 persons so far have been arrested for violating the election gun ban. 

The PNP said the region with the most violators nabbed was Metro Manila with 290, followed by Central Luzon with 149 and Central Visayas with 128.

Meanwhile, among those who were arrested were police and military personnel, law enforcers, government officials, and civilians. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News

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