Robin Padilla tells ex-cop: Guns are for defense, not offense
By Dhel Nazario
Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla reminded former police officer Wilfredo Gonzales on Tuesday, Sept. 5 about responsible gun ownership after the latter was involved in the viral gun-toting incident in Quezon City last month.

Sen. Robinhood "Robin" Padilla at the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs' hearing on the road rage incident, conducted on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. (Senate PRIB Photo)
"A handgun is not a weapon that is used to feel fearless," he said during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.
There, Padilla told Sen. Ronald "Bato" deal Rosa that he was saddened by Gonzales' act of assaulting a cyclist and pulling out his gun because it affects responsible gun owners.
"Kasi ang baril pwede yang depensa yan at saka sa sport. Hindi yan pang-opensa. Hindi yan isang bagay na parang nakainom lang ng gin ang tapang mo na pag may baril ka (You use a handgun in self-defense and in sport, not as an offensive weapon. That is not something that you brandish to feel fearless especially after drinking)," he said.
Padilla also lauded cyclist Allan Bandiola for thinking of his family's safety, even as he stressed such an incident should never happen again.
Also, he refused to accept Gonzales' explanation that he pulled out his firearm because he felt threatened by Bandiola.
"Hindi ko matatanggap. Kasi gun owner tayo, responsible, bawal yan. Hindi mo dapat nilalabas yan. Pasensya na ayoko magtaas ng boses dahil nakatatanda kayo pero hindi ako papayag na tatanggapin natin yan mga gun owner pag ganyan kakasa ng baril, huwag naman po (I cannot accept that. We are responsible gun owners. You should never have pulled out your firearm. I don't want to raise my voice because you are a senior citizen but I cannot accept such behavior by gun owners)," he said.
Padilla added such behavior is never acceptable because gun owners should always be responsible.
"Tapos na ang panahon ni Jesse James (The days of outlaw Jesse James are over)," he said.