MANILA, Philippines - A ranking Church official urged President Benigno Aquino III on Monday to be a good example and give up his firearms with the rest of Cabinet members who are also gun enthusiasts.
"Sa kanyang pagka-presidente siya dapat ang maging mabuting halimbawa at mangunguna.Kapag isinuko niya ang kanyang mga baril, I mean lahat ng kanyang baril," Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop emeritus Oscar Cruz said in a radio interview.
President Aquino and some members of his Cabinet, including Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Ronald Llamas, are known gun enthusiasts.
Llamas's name had been dragged into the controversy when one of his security men was involved in a vehicular accident and police discovered a high powered firearm inside the vehicle.
For his part, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said he supports the proposed total gun ban in the country.
Archbishop Arguelles said anyone who has a gun will be tempted to use it.
"Talagang pabor ako,sapagkat kapag ikaw ay may hawak na baril palagay ko kahit sino, kahit matino ka, ay mayabang ka. Kung minsan nga iyong may tangan ka na makasisira sa kapwa, akala mo kung sino ka na. yan ay gawain ng kasamaan. Kaya ang total gun ban, pabor ako diyan," Archbishop Arguelles told Radyo Veritas.
He also called on the government to setp up its campaign against illegal drugs and the ridding of police force of scalawags and erring cops.
"Alisin iyang mga droga, iyang mga bisyo iyan ang pinanggagalingan ng krimen... siguro ay linisin natin ang ranks ng mga leadership at ng ating kapulisan," he added.