Cops caught violating gun ban to undergo disciplinary program

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa yesterday ordered that all police officers caught violating the total gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) be made to undergo a special disciplinary program as part of administrative sanctions.

Verzosa ordered police regional directors to send all their personnel arrested for violating the gun ban to the Regional Special Training Unit (RSTU) and have them undergo 30 days of Character and Aptitude Development Training (CADET).

“As law enforcers, police personnel are expected to be the first to uphold the law and not to violate it,” Verzosa said.

“It is therefore unacceptable for law enforcers to become law breakers,” Verzosa added.

Police officers caught carrying guns will be arrested for violation of the Omnibus Election Code. In addition to facing charges of illegal gun possession, a bailable offense, arrested police officers will also be slapped with administrative sanctions by the PNP’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS).

As of Jan. 30, the National Election Monitoring and Action Center (NEMAC) based in Camp Crame has recorded a total of 39 police personnel among the 517 persons arrested in separate incidents for violating Comelec Resolution 8714 which prohibits carrying of firearms during the election period.

Under the Comelec resolution, only uniformed police and military personnel and other properly identified law enforcement personnel performing official duties will be allowed to carry guns during the duration of the 150-day ban which ends on June 9, 2010.

Verzosa said the IAS has 30 days from the arrest of the police officers to resolve the administrative case filed in connection with the gun ban violation.

Versoza also said that police officers who will be caught at checkpoints in violation of the Comelec gun ban will be sent to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) while their cases are being investigated.

Police unit commanders who will be found remiss in their duty to conduct operations against gun ban violators would be also be reassigned immediately to the ARMM.

Meanwhile, the PNP has arrested seven suspected members of a partisan armed group in an operation in Masbate.

Reports reaching Camp Crame said security forces from the Provincial Public Safety Management Company (PPSMC) of Masbate and police commandos of the Special Action Force led by Inspector Ronald Pascua engaged an armed group led by Gerry Solasco in Barangay Mabuhay, Pio V. Corpuz town last Friday.

Police said Solasco’s group is believed to be behind the Jan. 20 killing of barangay chairman Ali Aranzado of Esperanza town.

Following the firefight, seven suspected members of Solasco’s group were arrested. They were identified as Ambrosio Auman, 52; Gilbert Auman, 28; Rosalito Arabis, 31; Rolly Gallarde, 29; Charlito Rotano, 52; Bonifacio Auman, 53; and Rey Buhia, 32.

Taken from the suspects were an M16 rifle with 55 rounds of ammunition and two revolvers with defaced serial numbers.

‘Improve standards’

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago appealed to law enforcers and gun owners yesterday to use the prevailing gun ban as an opportunity to observe and improve gun safety standards in the country.

“Since gun owners will be keeping their firearms at home for the whole election period, how safely they store their weapons could mean life or death,” Santiago said.

Santiago is pushing for laws imposing regulations for both gun owners and manufacturers to curb injuries and death due to the negligent maintenance and storage of firearms.

Santiago’s Senate Bill No. 1466 provides for an obligatory course under the PNP on the safe use, maintenance, and storage of handguns as a requisite for an individual to acquire a gun license.

“On top of knowing how to aim and shoot a gun, owners of firearms should be required to be knowledgeable in the proper storage and maintenance of their weapons. The right to bear arms comes with great responsibilities,” Santiago said.

Santiago also filed SB 1854, also known as the “Childproof Handgun Act,” aimed at decreasing shooting incidents or crimes by requiring the manufacturers to incorporate certain technology or locking devices within its design that would prevent the firing of a handgun by unauthorized or unrecognized users, especially children.

“Laws regulating the possession and trade of firearms should be passed and implemented in order to comply with the constitutional mandate of maintaining peace and order; the protection of life, liberty, and property; and the promotion of the general welfare,” Santiago said.

In a related development, the PNP and the Armed Forces yesterday joined groups from the religious and youth sectors in a symbolic run to drum-up support for honest, orderly and clean elections in May. – With Aurea Calica