Banac: Nothing personal in PNP order vs Tulfo to surrender guns

PNP spokesperson Police Col. Bernard Banac. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said there is nothing personal in its directive issued against radio personality Erwin Tulfo to surrender his firearms with expired licenses as this is also a standard practice for other gun owners.

“Hindi naman [pinag-iinitan si Tulfo]. In fact, ito po ay ginagawa sa lahat ng mga responsible gun owners sa buong bansa,” PNP spokesman Col. Bernard Banac said in an interview with radio station DzBB.

On Friday, PNP ordered the radio personality to yield his guns as his license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) expired in May.

This order was issued after the PNP also “recalled for review” the police escorts of Tulfo and his brothers. The recall came days after Tulfo berated former Army chief and incumbent Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista on his radio program.

READ: PNP orders Erwin Tulfo to surrender firearms

Banac explained that the PNP would remind gun owners to renew their LTOPF. However, if owners can’t renew their license, law enforcers can temporarily store the firearm.

“Pinapadalhan po sila [gun owners] ng sulat at pina-paalalahanan sa kanilang responsibility for the renewal ng kanilang mga lisensya at kapag hindi naman po nila ito magagawa ay maaari po nila ipa-temporary safekeeping ang kanilang mga baril sa pinakamalapit na himpilan ng pulisya at ipa-custody,” Banac said.

Banac also cited “Oplan Katok” wherein police officers would visit the residence of the gun owner if they still could not renew their license.

“Ito po yung dadalawin na mismo, bibisitahin yung mga gun owners sa kanilang place of residents or business at muli paalalahanan sila na kailangan nilang mag-renew ng kanilang lisensya or ipa-custody sa pulis ang kanilang baril kung hindi nila magawa na magrenew kaagad at pangatlo kapag hindi pa rin nila magagawa,” he said. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)