EDITORIAL - Loose weapons

Even if the grenades used by publicity seeker Armando Ducat were duds, authorities must find out where these came from. They must also find out the source of his Uzi assault rifle and .45-caliber pistol. Illegal possession of a .45-caliber handgun is worrisome enough. If a man like Ducat, who shows symptoms of mental illness, has in his possession two grenades and an assault rifle, people should really worry about their safety.

The government should also start keeping a detailed inventory of its arsenals and keep a list of all individuals and companies authorized to import explosives and explosive components. Not all weapons for criminal and terrorist purposes in this country are smuggled in. Some are sourced from government arsenals, sold by crooked members of the military and police, as cases in the past have shown.

Authorities must keep track even of soldiers and cops who have been dismissed from the service. This is not an impossible task; the dismissed officers’ relatives and friends are known to colleagues still in the service. Many organized crime rings, including kidnapping and carjacking gangs, often have dismissed soldiers and cops as members. Knowing where to source guns and explosives, a number of them also become gunrunners.

The country has some of the toughest gun laws in the world. But while even popular actors like Robin Padilla have served time at the National Penitentiary for illegal gun possession, the sources of loose firearms are rarely caught and punished. Ducat’s case can serve as an example in trying to plug the problem at the source. It is not the first time that he has used grenades to threaten hostages. Ducat had done the same thing when he held a priest hostage in Manila in 1989. Though the grenades were duds, Ducat used them effectively to hold the priest hostage for six hours. This time authorities must not let Ducat get away with his crime. They must also find out how he obtained his weapons.