Palace backs arming of priests: ‘If they qualify, there’s no problem’

“We have guidelines. If any priest will qualify, then I’m sure the PNP will issue corresponding gun license,” Roque said in a press briefing in Davao City. (PNA PHOTO)

MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday expressed support for applications of priests and religious workers to carry firearms outside their homes for self-defense amid concerns of the killings of Catholic priests in the past months.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that as long as a priest or religious worker is qualified to bear firearms, he sees no problem with the Philippine National Police (PNP) providing them with permits to carry.

“Meron tayong mga (We have) guidelines. If any priest will qualify, then I’m sure the PNP will issue corresponding gun license,” Roque said in a press briefing in Davao City.

Roque clarified that the PNP would not give them permits to carry firearms simply because they were priests but because their lives are under threat or imminent danger.

“In other words, hindi naman po sila bibigyan ng armas (they won’t be given permits to carry arms) because they are members of the priesthood,” Roque said.

“Bibigyan sila ng armas (They will be allowed to carry arms) if they qualify under the requirements provided by law specifically, ‘yung mga taong may banta po sa kanilang mga buhay (those whose lives are under threat),” he added.

However, under Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, priests, ministers, rabbi, imams, as well as lawyers, accountants, media, cashiers, bank tellers, physicians, nurses, and businessmen are permitted to carry licensed guns while they are on duty.

According to the PNP, the permit to carry firearms is separate from the permit to own firearms. These professionals must already have permits to own firearms before being allowed to carry firearms outside their homes.

These professionals are considered to be in imminent danger due to the nature of their profession, occupation or business and are not required to submit threat assessment certificates as the law automatically recognizes them as persons in imminent danger.

Last week, the PNP bared that from June 2017 to the same month this year, it received applications from over 200 priests, ministers, and preachers applying for a permit to bear firearms outside their homes but there was no information if applications for permits to own or carry increased following priest killings.

Priest killings

The most recent victim, Father Richmond Nilo of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, is the third Catholic priest killed in the country in recent months.

Reports showed that Nilo was shot dead by unidentified gunmen four times while he was about to celebrate mass in a chapel in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija Sunday evening.

Malacañang has condemned Nilo’s killing and vowed to make the killings of priests its “top priority.”

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde is monitoring developments on the case.

Roque also denied that the consecutive killings of priests can be associated to Duterte’s attacks against the Catholic Church, noting that there was no “empirical basis” for such claims.

“I don’t think there is any empirical basis for that ‘no. Ang masasabi ko lang po itong kultura ng impunity ay naririyan na po bago pa pumasok ang ating Presidente (I can only say that this culture of impunity has been there even before our President came in),” Roque said.