House deputy speaker for Mindanao Gerry Salapuddin has welcomed the newly-assigned 1st Marine Brigade in Basilan for stepping up the enforcement of gun ban in the island province imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“We welcome the measures coming from the new Marine Brigade commander (Col. Ramero Alivio) assigned in Basilan. I firmly believe that should be the first task that the Philippine Marines should get into,” Salapuddin told reporters.
He said it’s high time that the strict implementation of the gun ban is enforced to the fullest not only during the election period to contain the proliferation of illegal firearms and private armies in his province.
In November last year, the third termer Basilan congressman asked the Lower House and the concerned government agencies to look into the alleged proliferation and acquisition of illegal firearms by politicians in Basilan.
Reports said heavy armaments being used for warfare and the maintenance of private of illegal firearms by unscrupulous politicians were how the election fever has been manifested in the island province.
“The acquisition was supposedly intended to maintain peace or for security or defensive measures. Unfortunately, unscrupulous politicians have been planning to use the firearms to guarantee victory at the polls through the use of violence and intimidation,” Salapuddin said.
Salapuddin called on the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to immediately look into the situation in his province.
“I believe that the matter, if not addressed, will again tarnish the forthcoming conduct of elections,” the lawmaker added.
Salapuddin, meantimne, brushed off political detractors’ criticism against his bid for governor of Basilan, saying he is used to it and this pushes him more to do his job and serve the people.
“I don't want to waste my time with those critics. I have my hands full tackling unfinished business and pressing issues in congress,” he said.
Salapuddin, a third-termer congressman, is running under the administration's Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Kampi-Lakas-CMD) coalition party.
(HG)
“We welcome the measures coming from the new Marine Brigade commander (Col. Ramero Alivio) assigned in Basilan. I firmly believe that should be the first task that the Philippine Marines should get into,” Salapuddin told reporters.
He said it’s high time that the strict implementation of the gun ban is enforced to the fullest not only during the election period to contain the proliferation of illegal firearms and private armies in his province.
In November last year, the third termer Basilan congressman asked the Lower House and the concerned government agencies to look into the alleged proliferation and acquisition of illegal firearms by politicians in Basilan.
Reports said heavy armaments being used for warfare and the maintenance of private of illegal firearms by unscrupulous politicians were how the election fever has been manifested in the island province.
“The acquisition was supposedly intended to maintain peace or for security or defensive measures. Unfortunately, unscrupulous politicians have been planning to use the firearms to guarantee victory at the polls through the use of violence and intimidation,” Salapuddin said.
Salapuddin called on the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to immediately look into the situation in his province.
“I believe that the matter, if not addressed, will again tarnish the forthcoming conduct of elections,” the lawmaker added.
Salapuddin, meantimne, brushed off political detractors’ criticism against his bid for governor of Basilan, saying he is used to it and this pushes him more to do his job and serve the people.
“I don't want to waste my time with those critics. I have my hands full tackling unfinished business and pressing issues in congress,” he said.
Salapuddin, a third-termer congressman, is running under the administration's Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Kampi-Lakas-CMD) coalition party.
(HG)
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