By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is open to imposing stiffer penalties for illegal possession of firearms in the wake of fatal shooting incidents within school premises involving minors, Malacañang said on Wednesday.
In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro described as “good” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s proposal to impose a 20-year jail term and remove bail for illegal possession of loose firearms.
“Ito ay naging magandang suggestion ni Secretary Jonvic Remulla. Ito naman din po ay para sa mas protektadong bansa at mas protektadong mga kababayan natin (This is a good suggestion from Secretary Jonvic Remulla. It is also intended to make the country and our fellow Filipinos safer),” she said.
Castro said Marcos would not oppose measures intended to protect the public.
She, however, said the President would need to review the proposed legislation and its specific provisions before taking a position on the matter.
“So, kung ano po talaga ang maaring maging magandang batas, para ito po ay mas mabigyan ng malaking parusa, ang Pangulo po ay open (if there is a good law that could impose stiffer penalties, the President is open to it),” she said.
“But we have to wait for the versions of the bills so that the President could make his stance on such issue. So, ngayon wala pa po (for now, there is none).”
She stressed that deadly shooting incidents could have been prevented if gun owners had been responsible in handling their firearms, although she acknowledged that illegal possession of loose firearms is a separate issue.
Castro said Marcos would make a final decision once Congress passes a bill seeking tougher penalties for possession of loose firearms.
“Sa totoo lang kung ang tao naman ay maingat talaga na humawak ng kanyang mga baril, hindi maaaring magkaroon ng negligence nasasapit sa ganitong mga klaseng pagkatataon o sitwasyon (To be honest, if people are truly careful in handling their firearms, negligence that could lead to these kinds of incidents or situations would not happen),” she said.
“Muli, kung anuman ang ikagaganda ng ating bansa at sa interes ng ating mga kababayan, hindi po iyan hahadlangan ng ating Pangulo (Again, whatever would be good for our country and in the interest of our fellow Filipinos, the President will not stand in the way).”
Remulla on Tuesday urged Congress to amend Republic Act 11766 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act to make possession of loose firearms a non-bailable offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison. (PNA)
