KILLERS AT LARGE

Reg’l police’s problem: loose guns

Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, regional police director. PN FILE PHOTO

ILOILO City – How extensive is the proliferation of unlicensed firearms in Western Visayas? Two successive shootings in this city on July 13 and 14 seemed to challenge the Police Regional Office 6’s (PRO-6) newly-launched anticrime campaign, the “tokhang” against loose guns.

“I am warning gun holders with expired licenses. Process them now,” said Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, regional police director.

But he also acknowledged the problem on homemade guns.

“They should surrender these to the police to avoid being charged with illegal possession of firearms,” said Bulalacao recently.

One of the campaign’s objectives is to neutralize gun-for-hire groups.

As of this writing, the Iloilo City Police Office was still struggling to identify the armed men in the July 13 and 14 shootings. But witnesses observed one common thing in the two separate cases: the gunmen had motorcycle-driving companions that helped them escape.

The campaign against loose firearms would be akin to the “tokhang” against illegal drugs, according to Bulalacao.

“Tokhang” is a portmanteau of the Visayan words toktok (knock) and hangyo (plea or request).

“Just like the tokhang drive against drug personalities, we will knock on the doors of those with unlicensed guns and ask them to surrender these,” said Bulalacao.

On Friday at around 6 a.m., 33-year-old Ranny Bibangco, a supplier of quail eggs to market vendors at three big public markets in this city, was shot to death outside the Iloilo Terminal Market while talking to a friend.

The following day, 38-year-old tricycle driver Ely Tipanan was riddled with bullets in Barangay Lopez Jaena Sur at around 7:30 a.m.

The PRO-6 will be reviewing its list of people issued with gun licenses. Bulalacao said the attention of those with expired gun licenses would be called.

“If they surrender their guns, no criminal complaint will be filed. If they refuse, we may be forced to conduct police operations. This early I’m warning them not engage our personnel,” said Bulalacao.

The director said the campaign is also in preparation for the upcoming 2019 midterm election.

Some local politicians and businessmen have unlicensed guns or have firearms with expired licenses but still keep these, he said.

Worse, they allow their bodyguards to use the guns, Bulalacao added.

The filing of certificates of candidacy for the midterm election would be this October.

In Manila, Philippine National Police’s Director General Oscar Albayalde ordered police units to upgrade security precautions and prevent the resurgence of violence against local chief executives.

“In view of the recent killings involving local chief executives, I am directing the command group and the regional directors to review and launch early security measures ahead of the 2019 midterm elections in May next year, including intensifying police visibility, random checkpoints and focused law enforcement operations to prevent the commission of election-related violence,” Albayalde said in a press conference in Camp Crame.

“The order includes directive to all provincial directors and chiefs of police to coordinate closely with the local chief executives and other stakeholders to ensure that security and safety measures would have the broad support of the community,” the PNP chief added.

Albayalde said the killings last week of two mayors and a vice mayor seemed unrelated, adding that the police currently have strong leads on the identities of the suspects.

He added that breaks in the case may be expected within a week or two.

In particular, Albayalde said the PNP is beefing up efforts to crack down on gunrunning syndicates and private armed groups.

“As of this time we are looking into 78 groups, mostly in Mindanao,” he said.

The PNP chief reiterated his plea for individuals facing threats to coordinate with their local police.

“Kung meron silang alam na threat sa kanilang buhay (If they know any threats on their lives), they have to inform us,” he said. (With a report from the Philippine National Police/PN

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