Gun ban probe ends; team mum on results

ILOILO CITY ,Philippines  — The team created by the Philippine National Police national headquarters has already finished its probe over claims and counterclaims on the suspension of Permit to Carry Firearms Outside Residence (PTCFOR) in eight towns of the 5th district of Iloilo province.

However, validation team leader Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, executive officer of the Directorate for Operations, said yesterday they could not yet make public the results of their investigation.

He explained that the team was split in two groups, one of which was headed by Sr. Supt. Manolito Labador. “The purpose of our validation was to assess the real situation on the ground. The data that my group gathered represented the six towns where we did our validation,” he said.

Constantino said he still needed to consolidate his report with the assessment done by Labador’s group in other towns. They will first report to the office of PNP Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo.

“They might be able to come up with a consolidated validation report next week. But so far, medyo hati ‘yung mga in favor and against the PTCFOR suspension,” Constantino said.

The team arrived in Iloilo on July 26 and met separately with League of Municipalities of the Philippines–Iloilo Chapter president Mayor Ma. Teresa Debuque and Provincial Administrator Raul Banias. After which, they proceeded with the validation job.

Senior Supt. Manuel Felix, Police Regional Office-6 deputy regional director for operations and concurrent commander of Task Force Kalinong, said they are not privy to the result of the investigation. “It was an independent body. So, it’s up to its men to make the necessary recommendations,” he said.

Felix said the police will continue to intensify the conduct of police operations in the area as long as the suspension of PTCFOR is in effect. “By police operations, we mean the intensified conduct of checkpoints, application and service of search warrants in reported targets, and police visibility in the area,” he said.

By targets, Felix said they are persons holding loose and illegal firearms and armed goons. “The task force or the PRO-6 will just move in without mandate, hangga’t hindi tayo nakaka-receive ng official instructions that the suspension will be lifted,” he said, adding that the gun ban time frame will go on until January 15.

Although the gun ban received a 50-50 rating among mayors, majority of those interviewed like teachers, principals and residents gave their thumbs up.

“But they apparently did not know what the order is all about. They thought that it is just like the election gun ban where heavier penalty is imposed,” he added.