PNP okays suspension of permits to carry guns

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — All permits to carry (PTCs) or transport firearms outside of residence are deemed suspended in eight towns in the northern part, or in the 5th district, of Iloilo province effective midnight of July 1 until January 15, 2012.

Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Jr., Police Regional Office-6 director, declared that the gun ban order was approved by PNP Chief, Director General Raul Bacalzo.

It was only last Thursday afternoon when Querol's office received Bacalzo's approval of PRO-6's recommendation to suspend all permits to carry and transport firearms outside of residence (PTCTFOR) in this part of the province.

The suspension has been aimed at curbing the rising criminality problems and stop the proliferation of loose firearms in the towns of Ajuy, Sara, Estancia, Balasan, Carles, Concepcion, Batad and San Dionisio. Exempted from this were the towns of Barotac Viejo, Lemery and San Rafael.

Querol had expected strong opposition to this order from various groups and even top provincial government officials, including Governor Arthur Defensor who earlier criticized it as improper due to alleged lack of evidence to warrant the imposition.

"But our intention was to address the problems on peace and order in the area. And the implementation of gun ban will greatly help us achieve that goal," Querol countered, as he assured the public of fair enforcement of the ban.

With the effectivity of the gun ban, only members of the PNP, the AFP and other law enforcement agencies, performing official duties and wearing agency-prescribed uniforms, will be allowed to carry firearms in the towns covered by the ban.

Meanwhile, PRO-6 announced that its Task Force Northern Iloilo, now headed and supervised by the deputy regional director for operations Sr. Supt. Manuel Felix, will conduct sustained operations against organized crime groups, criminal gangs, loose firearms, lawless elements, wanted persons and illegal drugs, and will assist in the anti-illegal fishing operations in the area. (FREEMAN)