Only the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are authorized to buy high-powered guns in the country, President Duterte announced as part of stricter gun control measures.
The President has prohibited gun stores from selling high-powered firearms even to government officials, saying such weapons must be returned to the PNP headquarters.
“I am ordering also the police to control the sale of – all gun stores are no longer allowed to sell high-powered guns, even to governors and mayors. Only the military and police can buy,” Duterte said during his remarks in Davao City last Friday.
“And they should be taken off their shelf and returned to Camp Crame and that must be reflected there kung sinong nagbili, sinong tao, anong ranggo, saang unit,” he added.
The President has sought to tighten gun purchase in the country to prevent the guns from falling into enemy hands.
Duterte also warned government troops against selling their firearms to the enemies of the State, saying they would be thrown in jail for such offense.
“If you are a soldier, you buy bullets there and somehow it reaches into the hands of the enemies of the State, be careful,” he said. “I will be unforgiving. You will not only be discharged, I will insist that you will be in jail,” he said.
Meanwhile, airport and security personnel will be transferred to Zamboanga if another instance of “tanim-bala” (bullet planting) incident happens at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, President Duterte said.
The President has threatened to relieve the erring airport authorities from their posts and assign them to guard the country’s southern backdoor from the entry of terrorists.
“‘Pag may nagtanim bala diyan, I will hold all responsible aviation police, ‘pag may isa pa diyan, alis kayong lahat, papalitan ko kayo. Not only the specific policeman, all of you there will be relieved, and so with the NAIA, all of you there will be relieved,” he said during a press conference in Davao City last Friday. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)