PRO-7: Loot yet to surrender guns

CEBU, Philippines - As of 5 p.m. yesterday, Loot has not yet surrendered his firearms, said Chief Inspector Dexter Calacar, public information officer of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7.

“For information, wala pa’y report dire sa Region na naabot as of today (yesterday),” Calacar told The FREEMAN yesterday.

Also, Police Officer 3 Joel Pino of Daanbantayan Police told The FREEMAN that as of 5 p.m. yesterday, no firearms owned by Loot were surrendered before their station.

PRO-7 director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño said the resolution cancelling the license or permit of Loot to own guns has been issued last week.

He said they have been communicating with Loot through text message.

Taliño said Loot asked them to let him surrender his firearms, about 10 of them, until yesterday.

“Humingi hanggang today (yesterday), namatay kasi ‘yong kapatid niya,” Taliño said.

He added that Loot was out of town yesterday.

Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno, in a press conference last Monday, said they have cancelled Loot’s license to own guns and his security details have also been removed. This followed after Loot lost his supervision over the police.

The mayor’s legal counsel Neil Aaron Bailili has said that they have yet to receive an official order from the Philippine National Police and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

He said the mayor will abide by the order.

Loot, a retired police general, was tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as a drug protector, along with four other active and retired police generals. (FREEMAN)