World | Philippines
Philippine government to help judges purchase guns
The Supreme Court will make it easier for magistrates to purchase firearms for self-protection in the wake of the assassination of judges.
- By Gilbert Felongco, Correspondent
- Published: 00:31 April 6, 2008
Manila: The Supreme Court will make it easier for magistrates to purchase firearms for self-protection in the wake of the assassination of judges.
The government will fund the purchase of the guns and the judges may repay the amount over a three-year period.
Under the guidelines, formulated by Deputy Court Administrator Reuben de la Cruz, an interest-free handgun loan amounting to 50,000 pesos ($4,404) will be made available to judges.
The High Court initiated the scheme after the killing of several magistrates.
In January, Roberto Navidad, a trial court judge in Calbayog City central Philippines, was shot an killed by an assassin.
According to the records of the Supreme Court, Navidad was the 14th judge to fall to assassins since 2001. The resolution issued by the Supreme Court stipulates that a magistrate not more than 67 years old and not under preventive suspension from office, can purchase a firearm for self-protection.
Priests
Judges may choose to acquire a handgun, a pistol or a shotgun, the guidelines said. In the Philippines, a number of judges, including former trial court magistrate and now Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, are known to pack a gun for protection. Even some priests carry licensed firearms.
Under Philippine law, anyone who is above the age of 21 and has passed a neuro-psychiatric screening and has no criminal record can bear arms of a certain calibre.
However, this Supreme Court edict marks the first time that any group of individuals outside the police and military is allowed to bear firearms for protection and carry the weapon outside his or her house.
Businessmen or VIPs are allowed to carry firearms provided they can present proof that their life is under threat. According to Dante Jimenez of the group, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, the killing of the magistrates provide "a climate of fear that can bring about a perversion of the justice system much worse than the bribing of a judge".
Colour power
New coded warning
The Bureau of Immigration has adopted a colour-coded alert warning system in all ports of entry to thwart the entry of suspected foreign terrorists and criminals into the country.
In a memorandum, Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan specified three levels of security alertness beginning with green, yellow and then red - the highest state of alert.
Libanan said the new code was adopted in view of continuing threats from foreign terrorists and criminals.
"There has to be in place a system wherein our ports of entry are on a continuous state of preparedness to ensure that we diligently perform our mandate as gatekeepers of the country," he said.
More from Philippines
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
Allies quit ruling coalition in Nepal
Political row could trigger months of street protests and violence
-
Qatar blaze 'started at nursery'
Fire killed 19 including 13 children, at Doha’s main shopping centre
-
Jagan jailed over illegal assets
Andhra Pradesh leader accused of corruption, cheating, conspiracy
