MANILA, Philippines - Action star Robin Padilla on Friday surrendered four rifles with expired licenses to the Philippine National Police (PNP) for safekeeping.
Padilla surrendered to the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) two Colt 5.56 caliber rifles, a Winchester .30 rifle and a M1 Garand 7.62 mm rifle.
Talking to reporters, Padilla said he decided to deposit his rifles with the PNP on the advice of his lawyer in accordance with Republic Act 10951 or the “Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.”
“Nakikinig tayo sa advice ng ating lawyer. Sabi niya sa akin may bagong Republic Act yung 10951 na naapektuhan ako. Mas maganda na maayos namin na walang armas sa bahay ko. Mahirap kasi yung kinakatok. Kaya para maiwasan at ipakitang sumusunod tayo sa batas, pangalawa na hindi ako threat, ako ay artista lang, wala namang intensyon na masama,” he said.
Padilla admitted that he was traumatized by his experience in prison after he was sent to jail years back for illegal possession of firearms.
“May kasabihan nga pag nabalik ka sa bilibid na yun din ang kaso mo, ibig sabihin wala kang kinatandaan. Wala naman sigurong gustong bumalik sa bilibid lalo na sa sitwasyon ngayon, masyadong sikat ang bilibid. Masyadong ding sikat ang mga bala. Mahirap na masabit dyan,” he said.
Padilla said he acquired the rifles as part of his collection. The guns he said, were used by him in the action movies that he had made.
“Hindi yan bagay na iniipon ko dahil ako ay may intensyon na masama. Sa batas naman natin, pinapayagan ang gun collector. Lahat po ito lisensyado,” he said.
According to Rudolf Philip Jurado, the actor’s lawyer, the licenses of the guns expired last year but were covered by the PNP’s one year extension. The licenses of the guns are to expire next month. He said Padilla decided to deposit the guns with the PNP at Camp Crame while he processes the new licenses.
"In the meantime, gusto namin, gusto ni Binoy (Padilla) na wala munang problema habang inaapply namin yung LTPOF (license to possess and own firearms) niya. Pending application, dito na muna, dito na muna mga baril na yun,” he said.
Padilla also appealed to his fellow gun collectors to follow the new law on firearms possession.
“Panawagan ko sa lahat lalo po ngayong masyado tayong popular sa buong mundo sa larangan ng bala, eh mas maganda na tayo mismo, citizen ng bansang ito, magpakita tayo ng pagsunod sa batas. Bago natin kwestiyunin ang batas, sumunod na muna po tayo. At tingnan natin, pagkatapos natin sumunod, kung tayo naman po'y pakikinggan ng batas,” he said.
Meanwhile, Padilla’s lawyer Rudolf Philip Jurado admitted that there is the possibility that the actor may not be given a LTOPF by the PNP as he was convicted for illegal possession of firearms in 1995.
“The problem, si Robin, he was convicted way back in 1995. May conviction siya. The thing is nung napasa yung (Republic Act) 10951, required na yung applicant eh magcertify na he was not convicted of any crime. Tiningnan namin, merong conviction, worse, inapply yung batas retroactively. So si Robin at katulad ni Robin na may prior conviction, apparently, madidispossess, eh merong lisensya. Now because of that law, mahihirapan ako. So ang ginawa namin inapply namin yung apat na yan, let's see ano gagawin ng PNP,” he said.