Malacañang on Tuesday reminded owners of licensed firearms to secure their guns and store them properly, amid campus shooting incidents in different parts of the country.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro made the remarks in a press briefing when asked about the government efforts to strengthen the guidelines for law enforcement to prevent minors from easily accessing firearms.
This was after three recent school shooting incidents involved guns that were owned or issued ot law enforcers.
“Ang kailangan na lang talaga kung sino iyong naghahawak ngayon ng baril maging maingat kayo lalung-lalo na kung may mga kasama kayong mga kabataan kasi nagsisilbi rin kayo na daan para magawa itong mga bagay na ito dahil sa inyong mga kapabayaan,” Castro said.
“Sa mga nagmamay-ari ng baril, ingatan ninyo na iyan at huwag na sanang kayo ang maging daan para magkaroon pa ng ganitong muling pangyayari,” she added.
She said Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla is looking into possible measures to hike penalties for illegal possession of firearms.
“Sa ngayon sa ating pagkakaalam, si Secretary Jonvic ay nagsususog ng isang maaaring gawing batas para mas tumaas iyong penalty sa mga nagpo-possess o illegal possession of firearms,” Castro said.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for stronger efforts to ensure the safety of students in schools.
He said school shootings in the past quarter should never become normal or an accepted part of learner’s lives.
“Hindi natin maaaring tanggapin na maging bahagi na lamang ng buhay ng ating mga anak ang mga pamamaril sa paaralan. Karapatan ng ating mga anak na makapag-aral nang walang takot. Karapatan ng mga magulang na maipadala sila sa paaralan nang alam na uuwi silang ligtas. Ito ang pananagutan natin sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” Marcos said after the school shooting at the Banga National High School in South Cotabato.