Police officer against carrying firearms proposal

BACOLOD City Police Officer-in-Charge Celestino Guara said Friday that he is against the proposal of Enthusiast Confederation of the Philippines group in Congress to allow all legal citizens carry firearms in public places.

Guara said this proposal is in contrast to the Philippine National Police's (PNP) vision for a peaceful society.

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"Maybe, they saw it in Western style, but here in the Philippines, it's impossible that we will adopt it because we Filipinos have different attitude towards firearms," he said.

Guara also said it's not good in the Philippine society to allow any individual to be carrying firearms in public places.

He said that under the law, the allowed firearm for civilians is amnesty firearm. "They could have any kind of firearms, except for machine guns."

He, meantime, said that the proposal of the PNP to permanently implement the total gun ban in the country would be favorable to the agency.

Guara said that based on the recent gun ban implementation, the crime rates has decreased to almost 70 percent of firearm-related violence. "It has a good effect to the constituents, especially here in the City of Bacolod."

He also noted that the gun ban, which was implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in relation to the May 10 polls, would end on June 9.

In the forthcoming barangay elections in October, Guara said the city's police are ready to implement whatever resolutions on gun ban the Comelec will release.

He said the city police are in good rate and have prepared measures to ensure the safety and orderly opening of classes on June 15.

Guara said they will monitor the various activities of lawless elements in Bacolod, particularly those who sell drugs to students.

The city police also vowed to deploy uniformed personnel in several schools in Bacolod City.