PNP lifts gun ban in 8 towns of Iloilo's 5th dist.

ILOILO CITY ,Philippines  — After more than a month of enforcement, the suspension of permit to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) in the eight towns of the 5th district of Iloilo was finally lifted.

Police Regional Office-6 deputy director for operations, Sr. Supt. Manuel Felix, also the concurrent chief of Task Force Kalinong (Peace), confirmed that PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo has approved the lifting effective yesterday, August 15.

Bacalzo's order was contained in a memorandum dated August 12 and addressed to Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Jr., PRO-6 director.

The memorandum took cognizance of the suspension of PTCFOR in the towns of Ajuy, Balasan, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Estancia, San Dionisio, and Sara effective last July 1 and should have run until January 15, 2012, for the purpose of making the 5th district a gun-free zone.

The gun ban was deemed to allow members of the PNP, the AFP and the other law-enforcement agencies that are performing official duties and in agency-prescribed uniform to carry firearms outside of residence or official station in the eight towns.

In the lifting of the PTCFOR suspension, Felix said Bacalzo cited the assessment done by the validation team sent to determine the prevailing situation in the subject area.

The assessment says: "Threats of violence with the use of firearms have already diminished in the fifth district as a result of aggressive implementation of the Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS) in the municipalities covered by the suspension."

"It is worth to note that none of the suspects caught with firearms are registered gun owners or holders of PTCFOR, an indication that only legitimate gun owners are strictly complying with the suspension while criminals continue with their nefarious activities with the use of loose firearms. Task Force Kalinong has also complemented in addressing peace and order concerns in the 5th district."

Bacalzo has ordered policemen to remain vigilant and sustain the conduct of checkpoint operations, beat patrol, police visibility and other police interventions not only in the fifth district but in the whole province of Iloilo to control the proliferation of loose firearms and to curb criminalities.

Felix added that with the gun ban lifted, the usual police operations in the area will continue. He earlier said that he favored the lifting of gun ban because the police already achieved their purpose of throwing out armed elements in the area.

The lifting has been seen to diffuse the tension between the PNP and the Iloilo provincial government, he said.

When the eight towns were placed under the gun ban, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. was vocal in his opposition against it.