PNP says Muslim group must list guns

CEBU, Philippines - No one is above the law.

This was what Police Regional Office-7 director Lani-o Nerez said after receiving information that some members of the Supreme Council of Datu Alimaong, a Muslim community, are reportedly keeping unregistered and unlicensed firearms.

Nerez directed Mandaue City Police Office chief Orlando Ualat to convince the group to have their firearms registered before Oct. 31 otherwise the police will not hesitate to arrest them for possessing such guns.

“No one is above the law. Ako gani, kami sa PNP magpa-lisensya man gani mi sa among mga armas,” Nerez said.

Nerez said the group is not exempted from the firearm amnesty program of the government and should adhere to the law.

“I think kinahanglang ipasabot sa ilaha na dili sila lain na Filipino,” Nerez said.

Vicente Gonzales Jr. who also uses the name “Datu Leon Kilat”, national chairman of the group, allegedly said that they have their own government and judiciary so that the police cannot order them to register their guns.

The group held a rally earlier this month over a contested lot inside the Eversley Child Sanitarium in barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City. They allegedly claimed ownership of a timberland area inside the hospital compound.

However, Nerez said that if some of the members of the said cultural minority group will not register their loose firearms until October 31, they will be arrested through search warrants, checkpoints, saturation drives, and other forms of arrest, just like the rest of the Filipinos.

All firearms that are not registered or renewed after Oct. 31 are considered loose firearms. — Niña G. Sumacot/BRP (THE FREEMAN)