Guv’s son, pals lose gun license

THE son of suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and his friends will have to hand over their firearms to police after Camp Crame revoked their licenses.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr. made the disclosure yesterday after the Firearms and Explosives Office approved the cancellation last March 15.

The order stemmed from Garbo’s recommendation after Pablo “Paolo” Garcia III, Jose Primitivo Cal and Tonyson Lee allegedly attacked a police officer last Dec. 19 during a commotion at the Capitol grounds.

The decision came after two months when the Firearm Licensing Revocation and Restoration Board found out the three men’s firearms are within the purview of PNP’s Standard Operating Procedure 13.

Under the provision, a firearm license of a person with a pending criminal case for violating the Revised Penal Code, or any special law, shall be canceled.

‘Consequence’

Paolo, Cal and Lee were charged with direct assault by Insp. Alvino Enguino of the Regional Public Safety Battalion 7 last December.

“This is their consequence for attacking one of our police officers,” Garbo said during a press briefing.

He said they will notify the three gun owners to surrender their firearms to the Firearms and Explosives Section headed by Supt. Rex Derilo.

“If they will not obey the order, we will apply for a search warrant against them,” Garbo said.

He said he has instructed Derilo to coordinate with Paolo, Cal and Lee.

“This is just but proper for police to go after these people,” Garbo said, when asked if he has a vendetta against the three after his encounter with the Garcias.

Paolo reportedly owns a Bushmaster 5.56 rifle, a Glock 26 9mm pistol, a Walther 9mm pistol, a Colt 5.56 rifle, a Bersa .380 pistol, a Glock M19 9mm pistol, a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun and an H&R 7.62 rifle.

Cal, on the other hand, reportedly owns a Ruger LCP .380 pistol, a Glock .40 pistol and a Llama .380 pistol, while Lee has a Caspian .45 pistol, a Parao .45 pistol, a Ruger LCP .380 pistol and a Glock 9mm pistol.

Background

Atty. Christina Garcia-Frasco told Sun.Star Cebu that her brother Paolo has not received any letter from the police.

In his affidavit, Enguito identified Paolo, Cal and Lee as the ones who hurt him during the commotion.

He said he was part of the team deployed by the PRO 7 to secure the Capitol compound after the Department of Interior and Local Government 7 served the six-month suspension order against Paolo’s mother, the governor.

“They were very hostile especially to the uniformed policemen securing the area,” he said.

Around 11:20 p.m. last Dec. 19, Enguito said, he was making his rounds when Paolo allegedly struck the back of his head several times. He said he got a “little bit dizzy” because of the assault.

He said he saw Paolo enter the Capitol building. Before he regained his composure, he said another person hit his head.

Moments later, Cal and Lee allegedly “slapped” Enguito’s head, causing him to lurch.

Enguito said he gestured to his men, who were outside the perimeter fence, to stay calm.

PO1s Jessie Yap and Paulino Borja Jr. issued a joint-affidavit supporting Enguito’s claims.