AFP supports gun ban extension

MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines is in full support for the extension of gun control it earlier enforced along with the Philippine National Police during the election season.

Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, AFP spokesman said, that following the success of the national and local elections, the military now wants the continued enforcement of the Joint Security Control Center (JSCC).

JSCC was a Memorandum of Agreement the AFP and the PNP earlier forged in enforcing gun possessions’ restrictions including the cancellation of carrying of licensed firearms outside of residence, while going after partisan armed groups before and during the May 10 national and local elections.

To this effect Burgos said there is an ongoing talks between the AFP and PNP leadership for the continued enforcement of the JSCC, less the supervision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“There is an ongoing talks between the AFP and the PNP for the forging of the new JSCC,” Burgos earlier said saying that the agreement was a great success in curbing the proliferation of loose firearms and in neutralizing private armed groups and other threat groups out to sabotage the May 10 polls.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, has confirmed that indeed there is a plan to extend the gun ban the PNP and the AFP imposed during the election season.

This move, he said is to further curb gun-related violence stemming from the unres­trained use of firearms.

“Actually it is not a total gun ban. It’s gun control (where) some persons are still allowed to carry guns but under certain controls,” Verzosa clarified.

The second National Firearms Control Summit will be held on June 4 to discuss and tackle the proposed gun ban extension.

No to gun ban extension

In related developments, a group of “total pro gun” advocates, will be asking Congress to pass a law that will relax existing rules on gun ownership and allow Filipinos of legal age to own and bear arms.

Perry Punla, an advocate of total pro gun and president of the Gun Enthusiast Confederation of the Philippines (GECP), said there is a need for lawmakers to draft a law that would give people “the right, not just the privilege to own a gun.”

In the “total pro gun” law proposal, Punla said gun owners no longer have to apply for a permit to carry firearms because a gun license is enough.

He explained: “Sa mga nagsasabi na nakakamatay ang baril, maling notion kasi ang nakakamatay yung tao na may hawak ng baril, walang pinagkaiba ito sa driver ng sasakyan. Hindi naman yung sasakyan ang nakakamatay, kundi yung driver.”

He said that the 125,000 strong PNP force cannot protect 90 million Filipinos that’s why law-abiding citizens must be given the right to protect themselves by giving them the right to bear arms.

He added that gun owners “shall be answerable in court if they use their guns whether in offense or defense.”

Punla said that what the country needs to address lawlessness is a “total pro gun” rather than a total gun ban.