Shooting a grim reminder for gun control–police

LAST Tuesday’s shooting rampage that killed two people and severely injured another at the Palace of Justice in Cebu City is a wake-up call for tougher gun control and an intensified campaign against loose firearms.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) chief, said they were verifying how the shooter, John Pope, managed to sneak in two guns despite the presence of security guards at the Palace of Justice.

Garbo said there were no policemen inside the compound since they were detailed outside the building.

Visitors who enter the building weren’t frisked and their belongings not inspected, he said.

“The police are only there for visibility. Someone complained about strict security so we loosened it up a bit,” Garbo said, adding that the shooting was an isolated case.

Garbo said Pope’s guns were “paltik” or locally made and thus unlicensed. “Despite the election gun ban, there are still instances when criminals can get away with carrying firearms,” he said.Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos and Correspondents Chito Aragon