MANILA, Philippines -- To strengthen the fight against criminality, Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. on Tuesday called for stricter gun control measures.

Pimentel prodded Congress to immediately approve the imposition of stiffer penalties for violators of gun laws in the wake of the robbery at the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. branch in Cabuyao, Laguna, in which 10 persons were killed, and the massacre of eight persons in Calamba, also in Laguna.

He also asked the Senate leadership to prioritize Senate Bill 278, which regulates the carrying of firearms outside residences and installations, and penalizes violators with a jail term of from six to 10 years and a fine of from P20,000 to P100,000.

This bill bans the carrying of firearms outside home, military and police stations, and sports facilities.

It also provides that only those primarily engaged in military, police and other law enforcement functions shall be authorized to carry firearms, provided they are in full uniform and identifiable by their position and rank, and in actually performance of their official duties.

“While the proposal does not intend to prohibit the ownership and possession of licensed firearms by the general public, it limits the circumstances under which a private individual may take his firearm outside his residence.” Pimentel explained.