Commending the
Pulupandan police E

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Governor Joseph Marañon was right in lauding the police for acting swiftly on the case of the armed security guards in Pulupandan who were found to be in places where they had not been properly assigned. The police seized their firearms and arrested some of them.

The guards were identified to be from the Cornerstone Agency and, from the indications, may not have been aware that, even if their firearms were licensed, they should not be carrying them in public places which are not covered by their assignments. Could it also be possible that they were not aware that such act is strictly prohibited by the now existing gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections?

It was fortunate that no untoward incidents involving the use of those firearms had taken place despite the perceived tension in the town. However, it was just proper that the security guards be made to answer for their violation of one very vital prohibition under the Election Law, that of carrying firearms without the necessary authorization to do so and in places not covered by their specific assignments.

The latest development in the Pulupandan case is that the police is readying charges against the security guards. Because even if the documents they had presented allegedly covering their firearms will all be found to be in order, the mere fact that they had brought them in what is not referred to in their own parlance as their "duty area" already constitutes a violation for which they, and probably their agency, have to answer for. Meanwhile, we also commend the police in Pulupandan for upholding the law, even if those involved belong to a group whose functions are supposed to be allied to theirs.*