Robin Padilla surrenders guns, asks PNP to take care of his ‘girlfriends’

To show that he is a responsible firearms owner, actor Robin Padilla has surrendered to the police his guns—some he has used in his famous action films—due to the expiration of his license next month.

Padilla turned over on Friday to the Philippine National Police’s Firearms and Explosives Office four high-powered rifles in compliance with Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act, which considered guns with unregistered licenses “loose firearms.”

Accompanied by his lawyer Rudolf Juardo, Padilla went to the PNP FEO headquarters in Camp Crame and personally talked with FEO head Chief Supt. Elmo Sarona to study his case amid the strict enforcement of the new gun control law.

Padilla, a gun collector, said the retroactive execution of RA 10591 was affecting him and other gun owners who had served jail time of more than two years.

In 1994, Padilla was convicted by an Angeles City court for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

All gun owners must have a license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) under the comprehensive law, which also dispossesses convicts of firearms.

Despite his prison record, Padilla asked Sarona to go over his LTOPF application and allow him and other convicts to own guns.

“I am not questioning the PNP but the law itself. What about us gun owners who had prior conviction? Hindi naman po namin ginagamit sa masama,” said Padilla.

Sarona then vowed the FEO would take action and review his application.

“The fact is Mr. Robin Padilla has been convicted of a crime with a penalty of more than two years so it poses legal question for his application for LTOPF. We will have it studied by our legal division, by our legal service,” Saarona said.

“The question is whether the new law will apply retroactively to him,” the official added.

Guns as girlfriends

Surrendering his Garand 7.62 rifle, .30-cal. Winch, and two 556-cal. Colt rifles to the FEO was difficult for Padilla as he had used these firearms in his movies and television series “Sa Ngalan ng Ama,” “Asian Treasure” and “Basta’t Kasama Kita.”

These guns, according to the action movie icon, have sentimental value.

Padilla said they were like “wives demoted as girlfriends.” The actor’s wife is host and actress Mariel Rodriguez.

“As an actor, I should set an example. I’m a gun collector. I have acquired a lot of firearms in a nonillegal process. Pero syempre sabi ng lawyer, bago tayo magreklamo, sumunod muna tayo sa batas,” he told reporters. Julliane Love de Jesus/RC