Gun ban in Mindanao
The announcement probably had to be made by the government: a gun ban was imposed effective last Saturday throughout Mindanao. The ban was ordered by Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, as a reminder to licensed gun holders about the suspension of permits to carry firearms outside residences.
As for the many others who don’t bother to secure licenses and permits for their guns, it remains to be seen whether they will heed any gun ban. Previous reports have indicated that this country is awash with loose firearms, with a high concentration in Mindanao. And not just in the conflict zones; in several relatively peaceful areas, political warlords move around their fiefdoms with their private security forces who see no need to secure gun licenses or permits.
The country has tough laws against illegal gun possession. If those laws had been strictly enforced in Mindanao, the threat posed by the Maute and Abu Sayyaf might have been greatly reduced, and lawlessness would be much less of a headache for the government. But authorities cannot even shut down the illegal gun manufacturing shops in Danao, Cebu.
Gun laws in this country, unfortunately, are among the least enforced. Even outlaws are allowed to carry guns, as long as they claim to be interested in discussing peace. Even when they have raided and torched government targets and private property and killed soldiers and cops, they are allowed to keep their guns and even build up their firepower.
The worst attack on the police – the slaughter of 44 members of the Special Action Force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao – was perpetrated when the government was preparing to sign a peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, whose members had opened fire on the SAF commandos to prevent them from capturing international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir. The murderers reportedly used sniper rifles manufactured by the MILF in Mindanao. That detail, provided by Alan Peter Cayetano when he was a senator, was never pursued.
Insurgents and terrorists aren’t the only ones bristling with firepower in this country. Vigilantes tagged in the continuing drug-related deaths obviously are also armed – and they do not hesitate to use the guns to kill.
Even cops are covered by gun laws; there are limits to the number and types of weapons they can own. Does anyone bother to check on them? The absence of such checks makes it so easy for police to morph into armed goons and zealous executioners.
A gun ban is a typical component of martial law. A more effective weapon against lawlessness, however, is a sustained and effective enforcement of gun laws.
