Western Visayas police ordered to review Iloilo gun ban

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo ordered yesterday the review of the gun ban being enforced in eight towns in Iloilo.

Bacalzo said the retention or rejection of the gun ban would depend on the recommendation of Western Visayas police director Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol Jr.

“I have directed the regional director (Querol) to review the matter as a matter of procedure,” said Bacalzo, noting that the local police are in a better position to decide the fate of the gun ban as they “are fully aware of the situation on the ground.”

Bacalzo directed Querol to submit his recommendation as soon as possible.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago had expressed doubt over the legality of the gun ban imposed by Querol in the towns of Ajuy, Sara, Estancia, Balasan, Carles, Concepcion, Batad and San Dionisio, all within the fifth congressional district of Iloilo.

The gun ban was enforced to allegedly curb the proliferation of loose firearms and the rise of criminality in those areas.

However, the towns of Barotac Viejo, San Rafael and Lemery, which are all within the same district, were excluded from the ban.

Only members of the PNP, the military, and other law enforcement agencies on official business and wearing the prescribed uniform would be allowed to carry firearms in the eight towns.

Bacalzo pointed out that the gun ban is still in effect in Iloilo’s eight towns pending the review and recommendation of Querol.

Bacalzo said the effectivity of the gun ban is until the end of the year.

He said that he would immediately stop the imposition of the gun ban once there are compelling reasons to reject Querol’s recommendations.

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, however, said that the gun ban is wrong, reckless, and baseless.

He said that there is no state of lawlessness or rampant criminality in the affected areas that would warrant a gun ban.

News reports cited statistics from the Iloilo Provincial Police Office showing the crime rate in the district had declined by 40 percent from April to June this year.

Sources alluded to political motivations behind the gun ban, noting that the towns affected by the gun ban are all within the fifth congressional district of Iloilo. The district is among the most contested areas in previous elections.

Santiago questioned why there was no investigation, public consultation, or inquiry prior to the gun ban to determine whether the ban was necessary, reasonable, or sound.

The senator said that the PNP provincial director, the governor, and the mayors of the towns affected by the ban should have been consulted, considering that they are in the best position to know the peace and order situation in their areas.

The senator filed Senate Resolution No. 531 calling for a Senate inquiry on the legality of the gun ban in the eight towns of Iloilo. – With Non Alquitran