Senators with police, military backgrounds split on Llamas’ gun case

MANILA, Philippines—Senators with police and military backgrounds were split over whether presidential adviser on the peace process Ronald Llamas or his bodyguards could be held liable for the arsenal of weapons discovered in his vehicle while he was abroad.

Senate defense committee chairman Panfilo Lacson, a former National Police chief, said the security personnel, even after they were dismissed, could still be liable for carrying the firearms if the permits to carry these were not under their names.

“Who were they securing if Secretary Llamas is in Switzerland? Themselves? If their principal is the one under threat, why were they still carrying high-powered firearms while he was away?” Lacson asked.

The senator lamented that after the video footage of the weapons was taken at the scene of the accident where Llamas’ vehicle was involved, “these could no longer be accounted for.”

“The police could no longer account for what should be physical evidence.  So where are the firearms now?” he asked.

But Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a former soldier, said the bodyguards could always justify that they were supposedly in transit when the stash of weapons was discovered.

“The car is basically an extension of the home. There exists that technicality. Unless (the weapons were) being brandished publicly, that is the only clear case of illegal possession of firearms,” he explained, but the senator did not cite a specific provision of the law that would allow people to carry their firearms in their cars even without permits.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, a former defense secretary, said if the bodyguards were soldiers or police officers, “they do not need permits to carry since they are issued firearms. If you are on a mission, you do not need a (permit to carry).”

“If (those weapons were) entrusted to (the bodyguards) as part of duty, I do not see how one could spell out a criminal liability. Also, you have to consider the position of (Llamas). If he is holding a sensitive position and exposed to threats as high government official, he is entitled to protect himself,” Enrile added.

Senate defense vice chairman Gregorio Honasan noted that laws covering possession and carrying of firearms should apply to Llamas and his bodyguards.

“We will find out from initial investigation. There is nothing irregular if the firearms are registered in the name of the personnel or the driver. We do not want to prejudge the situation,” he said.