By Billy Begas
Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. on Monday called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intervene regarding the action taken by the Philippine National Police-Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) against him.
In a privilege speech, Teves read his open letter for Marcos “to respectfully invite your kind attention to certain matters that I feel would merit your direct intervention, as it affects the rights, not only of the undersigned but those of thousands of Filipinos as well.”
Teves said the PNP-FEO issued a press release accusing him of submitting “spurious documents” for his License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF).
He said that if submitted spurious documents, “why was I issued a LTOPF in the first place?”
“Why was I able to purchase through the years several firearms legally from legitimate sources if my license is in fact defective? Now, I was informed that the alleged “spurious” document is that the uploaded National Police Clearance is not mine, but that of my son. Even if indeed it is true, then it is clearly NOT spurious but only an inadvertence,” the solon said.
Teves said what happened showed the deficiencies in the PNP system of firearm registration. He also noted that the PNP did not personally inform him of the revocation, which is “a clear violation of due process.”
“It would appear from the said PNP press release that I was singled out. I am certain there were other firearm holders whose licenses were revoked for one reason or another, but there was never any mention of them in the said press release, or any separate press release relating to them,” Teves stressed.
He said the press statement “was undoubtedly designed to tarnish my name and reputation, as it was made to appear that I was already guilty of fraud and imposition upon the PNP, which insinuation is very far from the truth.”
“To be sure, the PNP should not be used for political purposes to baselessly besmirch any public servant’s reputation,” Teves stressed.
Teves said he is not asking Marcos for special treatment “but only demand such rights to which all citizens are entitled.”
“Why was I singled out by FEO that it devoted time and resources to review my files just now, when after all these years I was a legitimate licensee. Why now? I can only say that I am arbitrarily harassed. If this can be done to a member of the House of Representatives, how much more so to any Filipino, no matter what his or her status in life is,” he added.
He also expressed his belief that “this turn of events seems to be orchestrated by powerful people in the government who have a personal grudge against me or has personal interests against me.” He did not mention any names in his speech.
Teves added that the PNP recalled his assigned bodyguards while his political opponent “has more than 10 government-issued bodyguards, some of them reportedly coming from the military.”
The solon said, “it now appears that I am being set up for something that will result in dire consequences for me. If the PNP leadership is complicit in this matter, and something violent happens to me, I dare say that the PNP will have my blood on their hands.”
He appealed to Marcos to “set this matter aright before the situation escalates to such a degree that it might collaterally adversely affect the present Administration, a consummation that the undersigned does not want to happen.”
