PROGUN Statement on the Cheryl Cosim Incident

We, the officers and members of the Peaceful Responsible Owners of Guns (PROGUN) denounce the reckless and irresponsible act purportedly by a certain Richard Ordonez against one of your own journalists Ms. Cheryl Cosim. We applaud Ms. Cosim for her courage in coming out and filing the appropriate complaint against the individual whom she claimed poked a firearm against her and her companions in a traffic altercation. She is well within her right to file such complaint and we look forward to the progress of her complaint against the alleged perpetrator. We volunteer our assistance if she needs it.While we are not condoning the actions of the alleged perpetrator against Ms. Cosim, we are appealing to the authorities, particularly the Philippine National Police, to be prudent and cautious in dealing with this case because it will send the wrong signal to all the law abiding gun owners in this country that the PNP is fast to accost and arrest an individual without due process. Under the law, a firearm license can only be revoked when it was used in a crime and such fact can only be established after a case is filed and tried before a court of law. Any prior revocation of a license would be premature and will result to a deprivation of due process. Specially so, we are in a period of an extended gun amnesty program where all expired licenses can be renewed -within the amnesty period. Otherwise, it will be contrary to the spirit of the Executive Order No. 817 by our President. Furthermore, filing of a criminal complaint is not the same as filing of an information before a court of law which is in fact the contemplation of the implementing rules of PD 1866 as amended by RA 8294. Filing of a complaint will commence a preliminary investigation by the Prosecutor's Office while filing of an information means that there is already probable cause that a crime has been committed and the accused is probably guilty thereof. At this point, a firearms license can be suspended by the authorities, if he is found guilty later, then the PNP can revoke his firearms license. While all of us would like to crucify Mr. Ordonez for his unlawful deed, he too has rights, that both the Law and the Constitution guarantee.In almost all the news programs of ABS-CBN, legitimate gun owners and PROGUN have been lambasted, unduly criticized, and portrayed as irresponsible troublemakers . It is true that we advocate the carrying of firearms outside of residence since such is necessary for our self-protection and because it is what the law provides. If Mr. Nandy Pacheco of the Gunless Society does not want us to carry our firearms out of our residence, he should both work with Congress to repeal P.D. 1866. Hanggat may katuwiran kami at mayroong Batas na nagbibigay pahintulot sa amin na magdala ng baril sa labas ng aming bahay ay ipaglalaban namin ito. Tinutuligsa ni Gng. Karen Davila ang pagdadala ng baril at ang pagaari ng baril ng sobra sa isang pistola at isang riple o shotgun ng mga gunowners na mahilig sa baril. Sa aming pananaw ay hanggat hindi nakaka-abala o nakaka apekto sa ibang tao ay walang karapatan ang sinuman na tuligsain ang pag-aari ng maraming baril lalung lalo na kung ito ay may pahintulot ng mga may-kapangyarihan. As long as multiple gun ownership do not affect the peace and order of this country and the welfare of the citizenry, no one can question our intention to own the number of firearms that we have specially so that we are authorized by the PNP and pay fees that add funds to its coffers.We earnestly request Ms. Davila to read the law before she makes her opinion on air.As we believe in Peaceful and Responsible Gun Ownership, we are ready to support the cause of Ms. Cosim because we are fully aware of the fact that to continue enjoying the privilege of carrying firearms in and out of our residences, we should follow the law both to the letter and to the spirit that made it.

ATTY. JAYJAY D. MENDOZA (President)

ATTY. TICKY TABUJARA (Director)