INTERIOR Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla on Wednesday has called on the Congress to amend Republic Act 8294, which made illegal possession of firearms a bailable offense.
Remulla said this is the reason why gun crimes have surged over the past few years, because the offense became bailable.
‘We looked at the numbers, 98 percent of gun crimes are committed with loose firearms,’ he said.
Remulla said the law, informally called the Robin Padilla Law, is to blame for the surge of gun-related crimes, the latest of which was the death of two students, including the student-suspect at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City.
‘I am proposing to Congress to make it a non-bailable offense,’ he said.
In recommending the amendment, or reversal of the stiff penalty of the law, the DILG chief wants to restore strict legal barriers, making unauthorized possession of firearms a preventable, non-bailable violation to keep criminals off the streets.
Revilla earlier issued a statement condemning the incident, which saw the suspect even livestreaming his acts before committing suicide by jumping from the fifth floor of the school building.
Police are still investigating as to what prompted the suspect to commit the crime.
Earlier, Remulla issued a statement condemning the sad fate of the victims.
‘It is with profound sadness that we find ourselves undergoing yet another trial as a society. In the midst of incessant rains and an impeachment trial, we now find ourselves investigating the latest tragedy in Zamboanga City.’
‘Once again, it involves students. Once again, it involves firearms. Once again, it has cost lives.’
‘The safety of Filipino children is paramount.’
He added that children know few things about politics as they have still to discover and discern right from wrong, thus the incident must not be politicized.
‘What is confounding is the cruelty of the crime. It is one of the few times where everyone is a victim. The shooter, however young and troubled he may have been, is himself a victim of what I believe are video games inhabited by actors who induce terror, influencing young and fallible minds,’ he said.
‘The students, security guards, and others who were injured have no sin except being at the wrong place at the wrong time,’ he said.
The DILG chief said the safety of everyone is paramount. ‘Whether you are caught in a flood or a fire, or find yourself in the crosshairs of a gunman, we should be protecting you.’
According to Remulla, gun ownership is a privilege accorded to those who need to protect themselves. But that privilege carries with it not only the responsibility of ownership, but the responsibility of safekeeping. One cannot exist without the other.
‘We will take the steps to ensure that this kind of tragedy can be prevented. If that hurts the sensibilities of a few, or of the many, then let your voices be heard. We will make the hard choices to protect the Filipino people. The social contract holds. This country will remain safe. That is our duty,’ Remulla ended.