EDITORIAL —‘Unli’ gun ownership

Now you know why private armies proliferate all over the country.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa was allowed to have in his possession 117 guns of various types and calibers, including high-powered ones, not just because he is a former Philippine National Police chief, but also reportedly because he is a registered gun collector.

Dela Rosa, in hiding since November amid reports that the International Criminal Court had ordered his arrest, managed to register more guns last March. How did he obtain and register the guns?

With Dela Rosa now classified by the government as a fugitive, the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office revoked his gun license and is reportedly moving to get back the 117 firearms.

Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act, provides for the issuance of a “Type 5” license, which allows ownership of “more than 15” firearms. Gun license Types 1 to 4 allow ownership of two to 15 registered firearms.

Signed May 29, 2013 by gun enthusiast Benigno Aquino III, RA 10591 recognizes the right of “qualified citizens to self-defense through – when it is the reasonable means to repel the unlawful aggression under the circumstances – the use of firearms.”

No limit was set in the law, however, for ownership of “more than 15” firearms. And there can be a broad interpretation of who might qualify for a Type 5 license. Aquino himself, at the start of his presidency, said he owned over 20 guns.

Two weeks before his presidency ended, Rodrigo Duterte reportedly obtained 10-year licenses for 358 guns. That’s a private arsenal.

Self-defense is a basic right, but a gun license is not; it is a privilege. Like all privileges, there must be measures to prevent its abuse.

How many other people in this country qualify for the privilege of having their private arsenals? Any official of the uniformed services, whether retired or in the active service, and any politician or business VIP with the right connections probably has a private arsenal, limited only by financial capabilities and the size of the storage area.

Are they all gun collectors? Do they own private security agencies?

Private armies have been blamed for rampant deadly violence during election campaigns. The worst – the Maguindanao massacre in 2009 – was perpetrated by the Ampatuans and their massive private army, with their huge arsenal featuring guns and ammunition issued by the government itself.

Amid the manhunt, Dela Rosa has been described as “armed and dangerous.” But the PNP, which is part of the manhunt, is the same agency that enabled him to acquire his firepower.

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