By Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN CITY – City Mayor Romeo P.
Pulmones recently has ordered the legal department of the city government to
conduct an inventory of firearms issued to the members of the Philippine
National Police (PNP) at the City Police Station (CPS).
The new local chief executive wanted to ascertain
whether these firearms issued to PNP personnel assigned at CPS are properly
accounted for.
“These firearms should be used to protect the people of Pagadian,” he said, adding he
wanted these inventoried as there were reports that some of these guns were not
returned by some policemen assigned in the city during the past administration.
”The legal department is conducting a thorough study on
the situation wherein legal actions may be filed against these people if they
refuse to return the firearms issued to them, especially those who are no
longer assigned at the city police station,” the Mayor said.
“These are owned by the city government. If these are
owned by the PNP, then they could bring them anywhere they are assigned. But,
since these are owned by the city government, then they should return the
firearms to the Pagadian City Police Station,” Pulmones stressed.
The Mayor also added that even a group of civilians
were issued with the same firearms and have yet to surrender them to the city
PNP or to the city government. Accordingly, the same legal action may be filed
against this group if they fail or refuse to return these items. (PIA9)