Cops recommend revoking Byron's gun license

CEBU, Philippines - Firearms Explosives Security Service Agency and Guards Supervisory Section chief Supt. Rex Derilo is set to submit today his recommendation to revoke the license of the AK-47 rifle of former Capitol security consultant Byron Garcia to the Firearms and Explosives Division in Camp Crame.

Derilo said that the recommendation was based on the investigation report sent to him by Supt. Eddie Recamara, chief of the Talisay City Police Office.

He added that Byron’s bringing his rifle outside his residence without the appropriate permit to carry is already considered probable cause.

“At the back of the license it stated there that dili pwede ang carrying of license firearm outside of residence without the permit to carry issued by chief of the PNP or his authorized representative,” Derilo said.

On Sunday, Garcia brandished the gun at Wayne Morris, his neighbor in Corona del Mar Subdivision in Barangay Pooc, Talisay City, following their argument after he confronted Morris for putting speed bumps to slow down traffic in front of his house.

Garcia said he only sought to scare Morris and did not even point his rifle at him.

There was another conflict between the Filinvest Development Corp. and Garcia after he blocked a portion of a road in Corona del Mar which connects to Escala, a new subdivision developed by FDC.

But Garcia said that he closed the road to protect it from being damaged by heavy equipment passing through everyday since FDC started developing the adjacent Escala Subdivision.

Cebu Provincial Police Office chief Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said that they cannot yet intervene on the issue of Morris and Garcia since it falls under light threats and should be settled in the barangay level first.

“There are necessary procedures man gud if it will not be settled on a barangay level it will be elevated to a higher level,” Comendador said.

He added that the next move will depend on Morris if he will file a case against Garcia.

Following complaints from the homeowners, Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez the other day issued a cease and desist order against FDC activities in Corona del Mar Subdivision.

“This is in response to the complaint raised by the homeowners against the new development of Filinvest,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez met with the homeowners the other day and said they are apprehensive that the heavy equipment coming to and from the development site will eventually destroy their roads.

“Gisabaan pud sila kay dagko kaayo ang mga sakyanan nga mangagi,” the mayor added.

Garcia, who is president of the homeowners’ association, representatives from FDC and Pooc Barangay Captain Dory Emit visited the office of Fernandez last Wednesday afternoon after Corona del Mar guards removed the two vehicles placed by Byron in the middle of the road to block the heavy equipment from getting inside Corona del Mar.

Byron said he had to take the initiative by closing the road after sensing that FDC was not doing anything to stop the activities. He said these trucks are also a danger to the children inside the subdivision who play on the road.

So to stop these vehicles from entering Corona del Mar, Byron parked his black pick-up and a white delivery van in the middle of the road since around 10 p.m. Tuesday.

It was only early morning the following day when the vehicles were removed by the subdivision guards. (FREEMAN)