Robin Padilla Law Under Fire as Remulla Links It to Rising Gun Crimes
ROBIN PADILLA – DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla has raised concerns over the rise in gun-related crimes, pointing to the so-called Robin Padilla Law as one possible factor.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla has pointed to the implementation of Republic Act No. 8294, informally known as the “Robin Padilla Law,” as a possible factor behind the increase in crimes involving loose firearms.
Remulla made the statement while appealing to Congress to review existing laws concerning unlicensed or loose firearms. According to the DILG chief, the majority of gun-related crimes recorded in the country involve firearms that are not legally registered.
“I call upon Congress to review laws on loose firearms. We went through the numbers, 98% of gun crimes are committed with loose firearms,” Remulla’s statement at a press conference.
The secretary explained that RA 8294 amended Presidential Decree No. 1866 and, in his view, contributed to the increase in crimes involving loose firearms because possession of such weapons could become a bailable offense under certain circumstances.
“The Robin Padilla Law which extinguished culpability and and made it an available offense has led to a surge of crime precisely because loose firearms is a bailable offense,” said Remulla.
Remulla urged lawmakers to reconsider the current provisions and explore measures that would make violations involving loose firearms subject to stricter penalties.
“I call upon Congress to make laws that make it once again non-bailable, that make it once again preventable,” the official added.
Aside from tightening rules on loose firearms, Remulla also asked Congress to introduce stronger measures against dismissed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) who allegedly continue to use their firearms and former uniforms to identify themselves as members of the security forces.
“I call upon Congress to help us fight criminality. Penalizing, dismissed AFP and PNP personnel from owning not only firearms but also their uniforms.
“Recent crimes have been committed by the use of dismissed AFP and PNP personnel using their previous uniforms identifying themselves as police. That should be a crime as well,” the secretary further stated.
The issue gained attention following the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University high school campus on August 18. Two people were confirmed dead in the tragic incident, including a Grade 9 student who was identified as the alleged suspect and classified as a Child in Conflict with the Law (CICL).
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