Baguio picked as pilot area for gun-free zone

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY — The Philippine National Police as chosen this city as one of pilot areas where gun-free zones will be implemented in a bid to boost the city government’s peacekeeping efforts.

Instead of limiting the gun-free zones to Burnham Park and Mines View Park, two of the city’s premier tourist destinations, city officials want the program to be implemented in the whole city, hoping this would check the proliferation of unlicensed firearms.

Director Leopoldo Bataoil, head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations Northern Luzon, said the PNP is continuously developing programs to boost the maintenance of peace and order, and the establishment of gun-free zones is one such program.

Under the program, individuals are prohibited from carrying firearms even if these are covered by licenses and permits to carry firearms outside of residence.

Baguio City was chosen as one of the pilot areas for the initial implementation of the gun-free zones because of its minimal crime volume and the police’s high efficiency rating in solving crimes.

Mayor Reinaldo A. Bautista Jr. welcomed the PNP decision of selecting this city as a pilot area where to implement the program, saying that the city government will extend to the police whatever support is needed to ensure its successful implementation.

The mayor said the PNP’s action to expand the coverage of the gun-free zone to all parts of the city is a wise decision because it would serve as a message to gun holders that the police means business in its bid to curb the proliferation of unlicensed firearms.

He said that the declaration of a gun-free zone jibes with City Hall’s plan to regain the city’s image as a peaceful tourist destination, noting a series of bad news reports on national television about the worsening peace and order situation in the city, especially at night.

Aside from the 550-strong members of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera frequently fields over 200 other law enforcers as augmentation force, particularly on special occasions, to enhance police visibility at crime-prone areas.