Ex-Romblon gov told to surrender 5 guns

MANILA, Philippines -  Former Romblon governor Natalio Beltran III was ordered to surrender his five firearms after the Philippine National Police (PNP) stripped him of his privilege to possess them for violating the gun ban in the May 2010 elections. 

Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, director of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office, requested the Romblon police to serve the revocation order and confiscate Beltran’s five firearms.

Estilles’ directive was based on the complaint of Senior Superintendent Christopher Tambungan, former Romblon police director, that Beltran illegally “loaned” one of the guns to a policewoman assigned to him.

Estilles’ office sent a letter of revocation to Beltran’s residence in Sampaloc, Manila last May 20, ordering the former governor to surrender his five firearms to it or to the nearest police station within five days upon receipt of the letter.

Estilles said Beltran has five pistols in his possession – a Walther 380, a Walther 9-mm, a Glock 9-mm, a Glock caliber 40, and a 9-mm Sigsauer.

Beltran could not be reached for comment. He served as Romblon governor from 2007 to 2010. He sought re-election last year but lost to incumbent Gov. Eduardo Firmalo.

Beltran is the only son of former assemblyman and former Public Works and Highways deputy minister Natalio Beltran Jr.