Talong, ampalaya for gun lobbyists

Instead of guns, they will walk with the fixings for pinakbet — eggplant and bitter melon (ampalaya) — in their gun holsters.

Licensed gun owners protesting the cancellation of their permits to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFORs) will converge tomorrow morning at the Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG) armed only with vegetables to show their indignation over what they call a violation of their right to protect themselves against criminals.

Lawyer Jay Mendoza, spokesman of the group, said in a radio interview the rally will be staged and participated in by responsible gun owners who are affected by the presidential order revoking the PTCFORs.

To dramatize their protest, the rally participants will carry eggplants and bitter melons in their gun holsters — a symbol of their helplessness against criminals if they are not allowed to carry their guns.

Mendoza said various gun owners and similar advocacy groups have already signified their intention to participate in the mass action at the DILG central office at Kamuning street and Edsa in Quezon City beginning at 8 a.m.

"We’ll just carry ampalaya. We can no longer carry guns," said former Solicitor General Frank Chavez said.

Chavez led an early-morning meeting with gun owners, gun club associations and dealers yesterday at the Army firing range at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City to discuss their response to the President’s order cancelling the PTCFORs.

"Why should the government punish the ordinary civilians for the failure of the police to do their job?" Chavez asked. "Every citizen has the right to protect themselves. If you outlaw guns, then only outlaws will have guns."

He added that gun owners and aficionados have "bonded" and intend to file a class action before the lower court soon. Chavez added that they intend to question the constitutionality of President Arroyo’s order cancelling the gun permits.

Chavez added that the respondents to the case would be Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., PNP Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) chief Senior Superintendent Geary Barias and, "possibly," Interior Secretary Jose Lina Jr.

Mrs. Arroyo ordered the PNP the other day to cancel all PTCFORs and launch a massive crackdown on all loose firearms in the country.

The President’s order indefinitely suspending all PTCFORs was issued in the wake of the killing of Ateneo law graduate Jose Ramos Llamas, who was shot dead along Taft Avenue in Pasay City on Jan. 10 over a minor traffic altercation.

Llamas’ alleged killer, Basher Abdulrahman, is a licensed gun owner and is now the subject of a massive manhunt by various law enforcement agencies.

The President issued Friday EO No. 171, offering amnesty to owners of unlicensed firearms who surrender their illicit arms. The PNP earlier imposed a two-week temporary suspension of the gun permits starting this month, also on orders from the Palace.

Chavez said, "Congress has already defined the acts that are punishable by laws on firearms," adding that the President has practically altered these laws with her executive order suspending the PTCFORs.

He said the order was issued in violation of the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government, because only Congress can amend or repeal the country’s laws.

"The ownership of a gun is a privilege," he said, which has evolved into a right, considering the stringent application process that goes into obtaining a license for the firearm and a PTCFOR and the fees that accompany such processes.

The President’s order, Chavez said, is tantamount to "deprivation of property without due process of the law and without just cause."

Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director Reynaldo Velasco has already advised the metropolis’ residents to begin keeping their firearms at home following the suspension of the gun permits.

Velasco said the implementing rules and guidelines for the control of firearms will include the sita (accost) and bakal (steel) operations at random checkpoints and inspections in Metro Manila.

Nandy Pacheco of the Gunless Society has hailed the move as a signal that the President is determined to put an end to so-called gun violence in the streets.

However, gun owners said this suspension of gun permits deprives them of their right and capability to protect themselves against criminal elements.

Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II said in a statement that effective gun control will further boost investor confidence in the country.

"We have to further strengthen our law enforcement so we can instill confidence among the citizenry, particularly business owners and executives," Roxas said.

Roxas expressed concern over the series of hijackings, highway robberies and thefts of goods from exporters’ warehouses in the economic zones of Cavite and Laguna provinces. "These criminal acts were carried out successfully because the perpetrators were fully armed."

Meanwhile, Sen. Noli de Castro backed the President’s decision to indefinitely suspend the PTCFORs. He also said this is a good time for the PNP to conduct a stepped up drive to recover loose firearms under its Operation Bakal.

De Castro said he suppors the gun permit suspension because of the series of crimes in which guns were used. He added that the campaign to have all firearms registered and regulated is best done now.

The senator also wants a stricter applicant screening process to ensure that only persons qualified and without any criminal records will be issued licenses to possess firearms.