A GUN amnesty program may have enabled former seaman Emmanuel Ponce to acquire his .45 pistol despite reports that he suffered from a mental illness.
Senior Supt. Louie Oppus, deputy regional director for operation of the Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7), said the 2009 amnesty program exempted applicants from passing a neuro examination to determine their mental fitness.
Oppus said the same requirement will also be waived for an applicant if he or she is a member of a gun club.
He said they have yet to verify when Ponce secured his gun license.
Oppus said they learned that Ponce’s license expires in year 2013.
The police official said civilians could only possess a .38 revolver or other handguns of similar or lower firepower.
In yesterday’s 888 forum Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7) chief, said they ordered their Firearms and Explosives Security Agencies Guards Supervision Section (FESAGS) to impose restrictions on acquiring gun licenses.
Garbo also said they deployed police personnel to secure the wake of the Ponce family in the St. Peter’s Funeral Homes at the request of Melinda Ponce’s relatives.
Garbo said domestic dispute cases can always be referred to their Children and Women’s Protection Desk for resolution.
Elsewhere social workers said they didn’t notice any signs of unusual behaviour on 13-year-old Embrelaince “Ember” Therjoy Ponce, lone survivor of last Sunday’s family massacre in Palm View Village, barangay Tabunok in Talisay City.
Provincial social worker Clavel Saycon said Ember remains sociable and is coping well despite the loss of her family.
“She is still surrounded by a lot of people, so she’s not feeling lonely. After her family will be buried she will feel sad and lonely because she won’t see them anymore. That would be her most vulnerbale state,” said Saycon.
Ember was warned by her father Emmanuel Ponce to leave the house before he shot his wife Melinda, her siblings and their maid.
Saycon said they will talk with Ember’s relatives after the burial.
She said they asked Ember’s relatives to set aside their differences and support her instead.
Saycon said Social Weflare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman asked for updates on Ember’s situation. With Correspondent Gabriel C. Bonjoc