MANILA, Philippines — Suportado ng Commission on Human Rights (CHR) ang paglusot sa Senado ng mas mahigpit na parusa laban sa "indiscriminate firing" at bara-barang pagpapaputok ng baril, bagay na kumikitil sa buhay nang marami taun-taon.
Ika-26 lang kasi ng Mayo nang pumasa sa ikatlo at huling pagdinig ang Senate Bill 2501, dalawang taon matapos pumasa ang counter-part na House Bill 6123 noon pang 2020 sa Kamara.
"Any firearm-related violence threatens our most fundamental human right — right to life. As gun violence continues to rise, the matter of gun ownership and control is a national concern that needs to be addressed," wika ni CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia, Biyernes sa isang pahayag.
"The government has the obligation to fight actual or foreseeable threats to life and should therefore take measures to protect people from gun violence, even from its own agents and officials."
Sa ilalim ng SB 2501, papatawan ng P40,000 multa ang sinumang magpapaputok ng rocket, firecracker o iba pang paputok sa pampublikong lugar lalo na kung magdudulot ng pagkabahala at peligro.
Makukulong naman ng anim na taon taon ang sinumang magpapaputok ng baril sa iba pang tao, maliban na lang kung dahil ito sa attempted parricide, murder, homicide o iba pa kung saan mas malala ang parusa.
Anim na buwang kulong naman ang haharapin ng magdi-discharge ng anumang firearm o iba pang device sa paraang "willfully"o "indiscriminately." Mas matindi ang ipapataw na parusa pagdating sa pagpapaputok ng ligaw na bala kung miyembro ng Philippine National Police o Armed Forces of the Philippines ang salarin.
Madalas maiulat ang kaso ng indiscriminate firing tuwing Kapaskuhan at Bagong Taon, bagay na ikinamamatay minsan ng mga tinatamaan nito.
"Firearms are not mere playthings and should only be used as a last resort. Numerous instances in the past have shown how falling bullets fired during celebratory gunfire have injured and even killed innocent individuals," wika pa ni de Guia.
"Thus, the passage of SBN 2501 is a welcome legislative measure, together with continuing firearm safety education to help protect the fundamental rights of the Filipino people by deterring the number of incidents involving reckless and indiscriminate use of firearms." — James Relativo