Mayor: Strict policy for free use of city’s firearms

BARANGAY officials wanting to avail of the free use of city-issued firearms should have clearances from law enforcement agencies and authority from the barangay council.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he wanted to make this the city government’s policy since there’s a need to regulate issuances of these firearms.

He said he wanted these firearms to be given to qualified individuals to prevent the loss of these firearms.

“Daghan na sa atong mga firearms ang nangawala. Asa na man ni karon?” he asked.

The city owns about 500 firearms. But some of those issued to former city officials, department heads and even former barangay officials have not been returned when their respective terms ended.

Government Services Office (GSO) head Rolando Ardosa said in an earlier interview that those who lost their City Hall-issued guns would be asked to replace them or repay its cost using its current market value to prevent the filing of an administrative or criminal complaint against them.

“But even if we implement strict regulations in the issuances of firearms, usahay naa lang gihapoy mangawala kay wala ang ilang huna huna diha so we are coming up with clear cut policies which we will already implement,” said Rama

An executive order dated May 11 states that city owned firearms could be issued to police officers holding the rank of PO1 to PO3 but have not been issued a service firearm by the PNP provided and have been a Cebu City resident during the last two elections.

A copy of the order was furnished to City Council during the May 23 session.

The executive order said that city firearms may also be issued to incumbent barangay captains and the barangay councilor who heads the peace and order committee, city hall elected officials and employees who warrant the need to carry firearms and senior officers whose line of work is related to the implementation of peace and order.

Rama said that senior officers may refer to senior citizens who volunteer in their Parish Security Group, a group of volunteers which the Rama administration organized in the different parishes.

However, these individuals will be the ones to apply for licenses to possess a gun with the PNP, clearances from the NBI, and endorsements from the Police Coordinating Council. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac