Palace urges gun owners to secure firearms amid school shootings

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday reminded gun owners to exercise extra caution in securing their firearms following a series of school shooting incidents that left several people dead and injured.

On Sept. 18, at least three students were killed in a shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato. One of the fatalities was reportedly the gunman, who allegedly turned the gun on himself.

READ: Marcos condemns, orders thorough probe into South Cotabato shooting

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The Glock 9mm pistol used in the South Cotabato school shooting belonged to the gunman’s father, an employee and disaster risk reduction and management officer of the Department of Education Region XII.

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Under current law, qualified Filipino citizens and registered juridical entities may own firearms in the Philippines, provided they secure a license to own and possess firearms from the Philippine National Police. Applicants must also obtain a neuropsychiatric clearance, prove that they have no criminal record, and meet other requirements.

READ: Campus shooter ‘planned  attack, warned classmates’

“So, ngayon pa lang nakikita na po natin ang nangyayari sa ating kapaligiran. Sa mga nagmamay-ari po ng baril, ingatan ninyo na po iyan at huwag na po sanang kayo ang maging daan para magkaroon pa nang ganitong muling pangyayari,” said Palace Press Officer Claire Castro at a briefing.

(We can already see what is happening around us. To all firearm owners, please make sure to keep your guns secure and do not let your negligence become the reason for another incident like this to happen again.)

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Castro also said, “Ang kailangan na lang po talaga kung sino iyong naghahawak ngayon ng baril maging maingat kayo lalung-lalo na kung may mga kasama kayong mga kabataan kasi nagsisilbi rin po kayo na daan para magawa itong mga bagay na ito dahil sa inyong mga kapabayaan.”

(What is really needed now is for those who currently have firearms to be more careful, especially when there are young people around, because through your negligence, you could become a means for these things to happen.)

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Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla is looking into possible measures to increase the penalties for illegal possession of firearms.

On June 22, a school shooting occurred at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, leaving three students dead and around 20 others injured.

The two firearms used in the shooting reportedly belonged to a police officer who is the aunt of one of the suspects and to a Cebu-based security agency.

Almost two months later, on Aug. 18, another fatal shooting occurred at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School building in Barangay Tumaga, Zamboanga City. 

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The incident left two people dead, including the student gunman. The firearms used reportedly belonged to the student gunman’s father, a Bureau of Customs police officer. /mr