By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY— Aside from surrendering firearms in his possession, Mayor Oscar Garin Sr. of Guimbal town, Iloilo, needs to account for three other guns that were reported lost.
“Mayor Garin has to disassociate his name from the lost firearms,” stressed Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, director of the Western Visayas police force.
“The PNP (Philippine National Police) is giving him leeway,” Bulalacao told Manila Bulletin Wednesday.
Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao
(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN)
The mayor and his son, Iloilo 1st District Rep. Oscar Garin Jr., have turned over 16 firearms to the police. after PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde cancelled all gun permits following their physical and verbal attacks on Police Officer 3 Federico Macaya Jr.
The latest was the two firearms surrendered by Congressman Garin to the police in San Juan City, Metro Manila on New Year’s Day.
The first 14 firearms were turned over to Guimbal police last December 28.
The lost guns belonging to Mayor Garin were not properly processed by the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office. Their loss was only noted by the Guimbal police on a blotter report.
Bulalacao said Mayor Garin must submit documents to Firearms and Explosives Office to formally clear his name from the three firearms.
“We also want to know who has possession of these loose firearms,” he added.