PNP suspends permit to carry guns in Pangasinan

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LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has suspended the permit to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) all over Pangasinan effective June 13.

Chief Inspector Ryan Manongdo, spokesman of the Pangasinan police, said the suspension of the PTCFOR was ordered by PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima.

The increasing number of shooting incidents in Pangasinan, most of which were perpetrated my motorcycle-riding criminals may have prompted authorities to come up with this directive.

The latest of of these incidents was the slaying of Urbiztondo Mayor Ernesto Balolong and two others on June 7 in Urbiztondo town proper where four other persons were wounded.

President Benigno Aquino III on June 13 visited the wake of the late mayor who was a member of the Liberal Party where he also conferred with the police in Region 1 and Pangasinan for a stepped-up manhunt operations against the killers of Balolong.

Another shooting incident happened in the afternoon of June 13 when neophyte barangay captain Jake Ignacio Reyes Jr. of Tapuac, Dagupan City was shot right inside his office in the barangay hall by a lone gunman.

Reyes who sustained one gunshot wound in the chest was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was operated on. The gunman casually fled on foot.

Manongdo said all the chiefs of police of 48 towns and cities of the province were advised by Senior Superintendent Sterling Raymond Blanco, officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office, to implement the order.

Blanco further directed police chiefs to intensify police presence and pro-active actions against criminals such as the conduct of checkpoints and the implementation of “Oplan Sita” in several places where firearm holders are likely to converge.