MANILA – Police authorities have launched proceedings to cancel the firearm license of a man who was filmed displaying a handgun after a vehicular accident involving several cars in Makati and Taguig.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. underscored that firearm ownership among civilians comes with strict limitations and must never be used as a tool for intimidation.
“The right to own a firearm is granted for self-protection, not for harassment or threats. Misuse of this privilege leads to its immediate loss,” he said Tuesday.
The case arose from a viral video showing the suspect outside a pickup truck, holding a gun following a collision along Chino Roces Avenue on April 24.
Police clarified that the incident was purely a traffic-related accident involving multiple vehicles and had no connection to road rage or criminal activity. The motorists involved have already reached a settlement.
Nonetheless, Nartatez pointed out that a private agreement does not absolve the suspect from liability for improperly displaying a firearm in public.
He warned citizens against brandishing guns, noting that such behavior can create fear and disrupt peace in the community.
The PNP maintained that public display of firearms is a punishable offense, even if no violence occurs.
PNP spokesperson Randulf Tuaño said the individual voluntarily surrendered on Monday night and turned over his .45 pistol.
Authorities are now preparing to file a case for alarm and scandal through the Makati City Police Station.
SOSIA director Rudecindo Reales confirmed that the suspect is a registered private protection agent, with a license valid until 2029.
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