Lax no-gun policy at the House despite suicide attempt

MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr on Friday, June 28, admitted that the House of Representatives cannot strictly implement a no-gun policy inside the Batasan Pambansa complex, even following a failed suicide attempt by an outgoing congressman.

“I think there’s a policy against it (carrying firearms), but it’s hard to implement in so far as members are concerned,” Belmonte said in a text message.

Nevertheless, the House Speaker said he has asked Quezon City Police District Director (QCPD) Senior Superintendent Richard Albano to “check all angles, including [the] carrying of firearms inside.”

On Thursday night, June 27, outgoing Cagayan de Oro Rep Jose Benjamin Benaldo shot himself in the chest using a .9mm pistol in what appears to be a failed suicide attempt inside his office. The pistol was recovered by the QCPD.

Benaldo was initially rushed to the New Era Hospital after he was found by his staff members bloodied in his chair, with the pistol on top of his desk. He was later transferred to the St Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City and is already in “stable condition,” reports say.

Benaldo and his wife, Brazilian model-actress Daiana Menezes, were earlier reported to be in a marital spat after Menezes’ Twitter photos suggested that she is a victim of domestic violence. The couple married in Las Vegas, Nevada, in December 2012.

Benaldo also lost his reelection bid in the 2013 midterm polls against Liberal Party bet Klarex Uy.

Cibac Rep Sherwin Tugna, for his part, said that the House of Representatives (HOR) should be stricter in allowing firearms inside the Batasan complex.

“I believe that guns are strictly prohibited inside the HOR premises. This is the standing rule. However, those who have a permit to carry a firearm can bring their gun inside the HOR, provided there is a sufficient justification [of threat to life] given to the HOR security department,” he said.

But the problem, Tugna added, is with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in its issuance of gun permits and permits to carry.

“There should be a thorough examination of applicants, physicalwise and psychologicalwise. Ownership and possession of guns should only be given to fit persons,” he said.

READ: PNP issues new requirements for gun permits

Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo said a no-gun policy in Congress will only be “counterproductive” as a number of lawmakers face security threats.

“It would be better to leave the issue to the sense of responsibility and accountability of every member of Congress. After all, we all work under the presumption of regularity,” he said. – Rappler.com