Ivler’s firearms unlicensed, PNP says

The firearms used by murder suspect Jason Ivler in shooting it out with arresting government agents Monday are unlicensed. More so, he and his mother and British stepfather are not authorized to possess or carry firearms, according to Philippine National Police (PNP). “We found out that those firearms have no records at the [Firearms and Explosive Division]. That means they are loose firearms," said PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina in an interview Tuesday. Ivler, suspect in the November 18 killing of Renato Ebarle Jr., son of Malacañang official Renato Ebarle Sr., used an AR-15 and a .45-cal. pistol when he resisted arrest Monday morning in his mother’s house in Blueridge Subdivision in Quezon City. Two members of the arresting team were hurt.

Ivler, 28, was eventually arrested after he was wounded in the firefight. He is recuperating at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center as of posting time. Espina said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the lead agency in collaring Ivler, had earlier requested the PNP to determine if the firearms he used were registered. Espina also said it would be up to the NBI to file additional charges against Ivler. GMANews.TV tried reaching NBI spokesperson Ricardo Diaz by phone but the calls remained unanswered. Sen. Rodlfo Biazon, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, demanded the PNP and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to explain why Ivler, an American citizen, was able to carry such unlicensed firearms. The PNP, for its part, said it would be investigating how Ivler was able to get a hold of the firearms. - Mark Dalan Merueñas/KBK, GMANews.TV