SAN Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify its campaign against loose firearms to curb gun violence.

Ejercito Estrada made the statement amid renewed calls for tougher gun control laws following the death of 23 people in separate incidents barely a few days into 2013.

A seven-year-old girl from Caloocan died after she was hit by a stray bullet in the head while watching fireworks on New Year’s Eve. A shooting rampage in Kawit, Cavite left nine people dead on Jan. 4. A few days after, 13 people were killed in a shootout in Quezon province.

The young lawmaker expressed apprehension that incidents of gun violence may increase if the PNP will not be able to immediately track down and apprehend the owners of some 500,000 illegal firearms.

“The PNP must be able to account for these loose firearms especially since the Philippines is already in the thick of preparations for the May elections,” he said.

Violent incidents tend to go up as election day nears. Ejercito Estrada said the government particularly the PNP must be able to assure Filipinos that it is capable of safeguarding their lives as well as the sanctity of the ballot.

He challenged PNP Director General Alan Purisima to prove that President Benigno Aquino III made the right decision in appointing him as national police chief and in entrusting him with the task of maintaining peace and order in the country.

 

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Press Release

January 9, 2013