Loot surrenders guns to police

CEBU, Philippines - Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot has surrendered 12 of his 14 registered guns to the police following the cancellation of his license to own and possess firearms.
The guns were turned over yesterday to the Firearms Explosives Security Service Agency and Guards Supervisory Section (FESSAGS) of Police Regional Office-7. Chief Inspector Petronilo Gracia, chief of Daanbantayan Police Station, picked up the guns at 12 noon at the residence of Loot.

Gracia was accompanied by Loot’s lawyer, Russel Pernites, during the turnover of the firearms to FESSAGS at 5 p.m. Pernites represented Loot because the latter was busy in the preparations of Haladaya Festival on August 30.

Pernites said his client surrendered his firearms in deference to the order of PRO-7 director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño. However, Pernites said they intend to ask for a reconsideration considering that Loot’s license will expire on August 2019 yet.

Taliño inspected the firearms and found out that there were two missing based on their list. He said the firearms surrendered by Loot did not include his Super 38 and caliber .40.

Among the firearms surrendered by Loot were several rifles, shotgun, machine pistol and handguns. Taliño directed Pernites to produce the two missing guns today.

The lawyer said they will comply as soon as the missing guns are found. He explained that these may have been misplaced because Loot recently transferred from Mandaue City to Daanbantayan.

Meanwhile, Pernites said they are planning to hire private escorts for Loot since the mayor had been receiving death threats. Loot, who is a retired police general, was also stripped of his supervision over the police after he was tagged as drug protector. His police escorts were withdrawn.

President Rodrigo Duterte named Loot as one of the five retired and active police generals allegedly protecting the drug syndicate in the country. — /FPL (FREEMAN)