BAGO pa man ikonsidera ang pag-aarmas sa civilian “volunteers” para maawat ang paglaganap ng krimen, dapat ipakita muna ng Philippine National Police (PNP) na kaya nitong protektahan ang publiko, ayon kay Senador Panfilo Lacson.

Ayon kay Lacson na namuno sa PNP taong 1999 hanggang 2001, dapat maging mas mahigpit ang PNP sa pag-isyu ng Permits to Carry Firearms Outside Residences (PTCFORs) sa mga sibilyan kabilang na ang mga senador, kongresman at iba pang matataas na opisyal ng pamahalaan.

“The PNP should make it a point first to show that it is efficient, professional, and competent to protect civilians on the streets from malefactors – including those with unlicensed guns and irresponsible gun holders that make them a threat – before it issues PTCFORs to deputize civilian ‘volunteers’ as force multipliers,” paliwanag ni Lacson sa panayam ng Teleradyo.

“Otherwise, the public would wonder if the PNP is that helpless to ask for help from civilians,” dagdag ng mambabatas. “Besides, we do not want guns to end up with those prone to road rage and similar incidents.”

Sinang-ayunan din ng mambabatas ang pagsasailalim ng Ehekutibo sa masinsinang pag-aaral ang nabanggit na ideya.

“I am glad there is some reconsideration and further study on the matter. That is the beauty of public discourse on an issue,” ayon kay Lacson.

Sa panawagang mas mahigpit na proseso para sa PTCFOR, binalikan ni Lacson ang naging patakaran bilang PNP Chief, kung saan lahat ay sumasailalim sa pagsusulit at pagsusuri, walang pinapalampas.

Inihalimbawa niya ang namayapang si Sen. Miriam Santiago, na tumulay pa sa asawang si Narciso “Jun” Santiago Jr. upang ipakiusap na mabigyan ito ng PTCFOR nang hindi na nagtutungo ng personal sa Kampo Crame para sumailalim sa gun safety seminar at ibang uri ng pagsusulit. Tugon ni Lacson, kailangan pa rin gumawa ng “personal appearance” ang senadora.

“She ended up complying with all the requirements, and even corrected some grammatical items in the written exam. So everyone benefited from it,” kuwento ni Lacson.

Sumailalim din umano sa sistemang kanyang pinairal ang noo’y Congressman at namayapang si dating Pangulong Benigno Aquino III.

“I told him he could go to Camp Crame where he will get the needed assistance. But we should follow one standard. After that we became friends, and when he joined the Senate in 2007, we even became close,” pagbabalik-tanaw ni Lacson.

Tanging si dating Pangulong Joseph Estrada umano ang hindi sumailalim sa umiiral na proseso bilang Commander-in-Chief ng sandatahang lakas at may hinaharap na posibleng banta sa seguridad.

“Aside from that instance involving the Commander-in-Chief, we were very strict. Out of some 300,000 previously granted PTCFORs, we issued only a little over 1,000 permits under my watch until President Erap was ousted in January 2001,” banggit pa ni Lacson. (ESTONG REYES)