DILG wants PNP access to homes of legal gun owners
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the Philippines has proposed allowing police access to inspect the homes of legal gun owners to verify safekeeping procedures, following recent fatal school shootings. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla suggested amending guidelines for government-issued guns and urged Congress to repeal Republic Act 8294, which reduced penalties for illegal firearm possession. Remulla acknowledged the proposal might be unpopular but stressed gun ownership is a privilege, noting that recent incidents involved improperly secured weapons.
Why it matters
This proposal could significantly alter gun ownership rights and privacy in the Philippines, aiming to enhance public safety by preventing misuse of firearms. The potential repeal of the 'Robin Padilla law' would also lead to stricter penalties for illegal gun possession, impacting the country's criminal justice system and requiring additional jail facilities.
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has proposed allowing police access to inspect homes of owners of lawfully issued firearms to check procedures for safekeeping.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla yesterday suggested amending guidelines on the handling of government-issued guns amid recent fatal school shooting incidents that involved such weapons.
In his proposal, Remulla said firearm owners will be informed ahead of time about the inspection and they would provide a checklist and reminders on proper safekeeping practices.
He admitted that such a proposal might "upset some people" but reminded them that owning and carrying a gun is only a privilege.
He pointed out that in both cases of the recent school shootings in Tacloban and Zamboanga, the safekeeping of the guns was not in standard procedure.
In the Tacloban incident, a policewoman owned the government-issued gun used by one of the shooters, her nephew.
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