Palace, PNP told to answer suit vs gun law

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang and the Philippine National Police were asked Tuesday by the Supreme Court to comment on the petition filed by gun owners questioning the constitutionality of a gun law that, among other things, disqualifies individuals from getting a gun license if they have pending criminal cases.

“Without necessarily giving due course to the petition, the court required respondents to comment on the petition within 10 days from notice,” the high court said in an en banc resolution issued in its summer session in Baguio City.

The high court was acting on the petition for prohibition filed by gun owners Eric Acosta and Nathaniel G. De la Paz on March 25. The two men have gone to the tribunal to stop the government from enforcing certain provisions in Republic Act No. 10591, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act,” and also challenging specific portions of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the law.

These included provisions that will allow the police to enter a gun applicant’s resident for inspection and disqualify an individual with a pending criminal case from getting a firearms license and to actually own and possess one.

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