Bantiles, Carabuena gun licenses revoked

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has revoked the firearm licenses of two men deemed to be unfit to possess guns, a police official said yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, director of the PNP-Firearm and Explosives Office, said Allan Bantiles and Robert Blair Carabuena have been directed to surrender their firearms to the FEO or face more charges for keeping unlicensed firearms.

“After the revocation, we will be writing a letter to Bantiles for him to surrender his firearms. He has with him one Glock and one caliber .45. He is directed to surrender his firearms, at the same time we also revoked his PTCFOR (permit to carry firearm outside residence),” Petrasanta added.

He announced the revocation after receiving a formal complaint from the lawyer of Jaime Garcia against Bantiles, who allegedly pointed his .45 caliber gun at the head of the 18-year-old high school senior at the Colegio de San Agustin (CSA) in Makati City during a confrontation on Aug. 30.

Reports had it that Bantiles, a construction contractor and a resident of Villareal Classica Village in Quezon City, owns at least two firearms – a 9mm Glock pistol and a .45 caliber pistol.

Lawyer Dominic Balane said Bantiles violated several PNP guidelines on the carrying of firearms.

“The gun was brought to a public establishment and this is explicitly prohibited under the PNP guidelines. Mere display of firearm is prohibited, in this case the gun was used to commit a crime,” Balane said. “So on these grounds, we filed a formal complaint before the FEO, through Chief Superintendent Petrasanta, to revoke his license.”

Even before the complaint was filed, Petrasanta said the Firearm Licensing Revocation and Restoration Board initiated a probe on the gun-toting incident after receiving an e-mail message last Sept. 20.

He said the “tag” means the guns cannot be transferred or sold while waiting for the Makati City police’s formal request for the revocation of the gun licenses and permits.

Petrasanta reminded gun holders that even if they have PTCFORs, bringing firearms in public areas like schools, churches, and malls are prohibited and could warrant the revocation of their gun license and permit to carry.

Garcia filed charges of attempted murder, slander and slander by deed against Bantiles with the Makati prosecutor’s office Tuesday. Former city police acting chief Superintendent Jaime Santos said a faculty member prevented Bantiles from pulling the trigger.

Meanwhile, CSA denied reports that it suspended classes yesterday for a meeting on the incident. A school official, who refused to be identified, also denied reports that Bantiles is a member of the school board.

More raps vs motorist

The Quezon City prosecutor’s office has formally filed charges against Carabuena, a motorist who was caught on video manhandling Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic constable Saturnino Fabros on Aug. 11.

In a resolution filed with the metropolitan trial court Wednesday, Assistant City Prosecutor Victorino Badua recommended that Carabuena be charged with direct assault and set bail at P12,000.

Petrasanta said Carabuena’s firearm license was revoked effective Sept. 4, “because of the complaint of the MMDA and the case filed in court. We are coordinating with the city police for the confiscation of firearms.”

Carabuena has since apologized, but Fabros pushed through with the case. – With Mike Frialde, Janvic Mateo