MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robin Padilla on Wednesday backed Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s call to repeal the so-called “Robin Padilla Law” and said declaring martial law could help address crime in the country.
“Mas mabuting balita ang Martial Law kaysa sa walang batas o pambabaluktot ng batas! Declare it and I will support!” Padilla said in a Facebook post.
Padilla said he believed Remulla was serious about his campaign against crime and proposed reviving what he described as the “kamay na bakal,” or “iron fist,” associated with former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“Naniniwala ako na seryoso ang ating SILG Jonvic Remulla sa kanyang kampanya laban sa krimen, at ang isang paraan upang magtagumpay ito ay ang muling pagbuhay sa ‘kamay na bakal’ ng aking idolo na si Apo Lakay Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr.,” Padilla said.
Padilla also supported Remulla’s proposal to repeal the law, which the senator said weakened the effect of the martial-law-era Presidential Decree No. 1866 on illegal firearms possession.
He also pointed to Senate Bill No. 2412, which seeks to amend the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. The measure would penalize gun owners who negligently fail to secure their firearms when another person later uses the weapon to commit a crime.
The bill also proposes higher penalties when the negligent firearm owner is a government employee or official, according to Padilla.
Remulla on Wednesday urged Congress to repeal the law and make illegal possession of loose firearms a non-bailable offense. He attributed an increase in crimes involving loose firearms to provisions that made such offenses bailable.
Remulla’s proposal followed Tuesday’s fatal shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School, where police said a 14-year-old student shot and killed a 15-year-old student before taking his own life.
