By: Francis T. Wakefield
Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa yesterday ordered a gun ban from Nov. 1 to 15 as part of security measures for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.
The gun ban was imposed in Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 4-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), and the National Capital Region.
In an order dated Oct. 27 to the regional directors of the three areas, Dela Rosa said the suspension of the Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence is meant to ensure the safety of all heads of state and delegates in the ASEAN Summit from Nov. 13- 14 in Metro Manila, Clark, Pampanga, and Los Baños, Laguna.
“In view of the foregoing, all Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence are hereby suspended for a period of 15 days from Nov. 1 to 15, 2017 in Regions 3, 4-A, and NCR as part of the security measures to ensure the safety of the leaders of ASEAN-member countries and other delegates,” Dela Rosa said in the order.
Dela Rosa said only regular members or officers of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other law enforcement agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Corrections, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Presidential Security Group, among others, in proper uniform and performing actual duties are allowed to carry firearms during the gun ban.
Dela Rosa said all persons in civilian attire carrying firearms shall be presumed unauthorized to carry them and subject to arrest and investigation.
Delegates and heads of state start arriving in the country through the Clark International Airport in Pampanga starting Nov. 9.
