Tuesday, January 22, 2008 Gun ban to take effect in Pangasinan: guv
LINGAYEN -- A total gun ban will be implemented in the province of Pangasinan effective Tuesday, said Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr.
This directive was triggered by the January 18 shootout in Tayug town between two alleged bodyguards of Tayug Vice Mayor Janet Zaragoza and other two guards of Mayor Carlos Trese Mapili.
The incident allegedly started with a heated argument.
Tayug Police Chief Sotero Soriano Jr. said Joven Bautista and a certain Lakay Alkaneses (bodyguards of Zaragoza) drew their guns and shot Bimbo Clotario and Ruben Severino Jr. (bodyguards of Mapili) several times. The suspects fled on board a motorcycle.
Soriano said Clotario sustained six gunshot wounds while a bullet entered Severino's jaw and exited his eye.
Espino said the recent Tayug incident is very alarming.
"I think we should not see people with firearms in a peaceful province like Pangasinan. If duty calls, I will personally conduct the checkpoint operations to apprehend those who will carry firearms," he said.
He clarified there is no problem as to those who have permits to carry firearms but he stressed their permits have limitations.
"We will honor these permits, but there are limits to these orders to carry your firearms. There is a purpose why they were given permits. It is supposedly for their self protection, not to assault people or to bring them in cockpits and other public places," he said.
There is no problem over politicians and other personalities who have permits to carry firearms and with bodyguards who are allowed to have guns.
"We will fully implement his order to impose a complete firearms ban in the whole province by conducting intensified checkpoint operations and active police actions aimed at unauthorized gun holders. We urge our Kabaleyan to help our police force in this noble endeavor. Let us work together towards a better and more peaceful Pangasinan," Nerez said.
Espino already discussed the ban with Police Provincial Director Isagani Nerez.
"My interest here is to protect the innocent people. Pangasinan is a peaceful province," he said.
He is issuing the Executive Order (EO) as governor of Pangasinan, for which there is no longer a need to coordinate the matter with higher police authorities.
Nerez, meanwhile, welcomed the directive of the governor. He thanked the governor for giving the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) "continuous guidance on how to make the province orderly and peaceful, a better place to sojourn and do business."
The spate of killing in the province already started even before the elections. Espino cited the assassination of San Carlos City Mayor Julian Resuello who was shot several times during a city fiesta activity and the murder of San Manuel mayoralty candidate (then incumbent vice mayor) Bonie Apilado.
There were also shooting incidents that followed later involving alleged bodyguards of Apilado and San Manuel Mayor Salvador Perez. (LCMY/Sunnex)
