PNP mulls gun raps vs Erap

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Joseph Estrada could be facing charges after he was reportedly seen carrying a replica of a high-powered firearm in a Cebu town early this month, the head of the Philippine National Police said Tuesday. PNP chief Director General Versoza said he learned of the incident – which reportedly occurred on March 4 in Carmen town in Cebu – from the Central Visayas Police and other ranking police officials in the region. "I was informed of that ex-President Estrada and [Makati City] Mayor [Jejomar] Binay joined a motorcade whereby they boarded a jeepney or owner-type jeep with a 50-caliber, but it [firearm] was a replica," Verzosa told reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City. A photograph published on Sun Star Cebu showed Estrada and Binay on board a military jeep with a replica of a 50-caliber machine gun mounted on it. Another photo had Estrada donning a military helmet. Verzosa said Estrada may be charged for gun-toting, adding that it does not matter whether the gun is real or a replica because specific provisions forbid civilians from displaying real or fake high-powered firearms. "I think there are some executive orders that is prohibiting the use of toy guns and displaying them in the public," Verzosa said. The PNP head also added that the National Police’s Civil Security Group headed by Chief Superintendent Ireneo Bacolod is presently conducting an investigation on the incident. He also noted that the toy gun was already surrendered to local police. Absurd Sought for comment, Estrada’s camp said it was absurd that the former president will be charged for gun-toting because "he wasn’t carrying the gun. The gun was part of the vehicle." "It is such an absurd charge. [The wearing of the helmet] was all done in jest and the vehicle was provided by the mayor," said Estrada’s spokesperson, Margaux Salcedo, in a phone interview with GMANews.TV. Salcedo also said that this may be the government’s ploy to “harass" Estrada. "It appears that it is a hobby of the administration to harass the president [Estrada]. It’s also unfortunate for the PNP to allow itself to be used by the administration," Salcedo said. Verzosa, however, bucked allegations that the move against Estrada, a critic of the administration, was politically-motivated. "I will not comment on that issue. We will just look into the laws that have been violated." - with a report from Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV