Ppsa-Hnu Debate Speech (1st Affirmative)

TEOPIZ, Ma. Luzila Paola G.
AB POLISCI – III

“Resolved that, there be total gun ban during elections in the Philippines”

1st affirmative speaker

“Mr. Chairperson, honorable judges, worthy opponents, ladies and gentlemen: Good afternoon!”

“The resolution before us today is that there be total gun ban during elections in the Philippines. We, the affirmative side, define total gun ban as prohibition against any person who bears, carries or transports firearms or other deadly weapons outside his residence or place of business and in public places even if licensed to posses or carry the same. In addition, the ban covers airguns, airsoft guns and replicas/imitations of firearms in whatever form that can cause an ordinary person to believe they are real. The only persons/entities allowed to carry firearms during elections should only be the officers and members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces, and other agents of law enforcement or government security agencies.”

“The affirmative side believes that total gun ban is indeed necessary for several reasons. One reason is that, this measure is seen to curb violence especially during election period which is historically marked by bloody clashes among conflicting candidates. Case in point incidents like the murder of 3 village persons in Zamboanga del Sur, just last October 2012, for supporting a particular candidate. Two clans who were supporting different candidates were stabbed and shot after a political gathering. And who would ever forget the gruesome and ever infamous Maguindanao massacre? Even COMELEC passed resolution drawn from Section 261 (q) of the Omnibus Election Code which identifies carrying firearms during election period is an “election offense”. Also, candidates running in the 2013 polls are prohibited from enlisting bodyguards including members of the Philippine National Police or the Armed Forces, unless warranted and assigned security detail by the COMELEC. The government had earlier identified high-risk areas for the May 2013 polls with history of election-related violence, private armies, running family feuds as well as rebel and criminal groups.” Public polls and surveys even shows that people are in favor of total gun prohibition.

“Another reason would be the further worsening of irresponsible gun use, like the most recent incident of shooting spree which killed and injured bystanders and market vendors in Kawit, Cavite last January 4. Or even the devastating incident of death by a 7-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy who were hit by celebratory gunfire or stray bullets during the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Pro-life groups, Roman Catholic Bishops and even members of Congress added voices calling out for a total, permanent gun ban not only during election period. Among their gun-control measures were the proposed Citizen’s Protection Act of 2010 which had been unfortunately gathering dust in Congress. In due course, “possession by civilians or private persons of such deadly weapons is not a matter of right”. “It assumes the predominance in our society of the law of the jungle tacitly encouraging a ‘war of all against all’ and ‘every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost’ rather than indicating trust in the government and our duly constituted authorities.”, it says. “

“Another important reason is that authorities failed to seize illegal firearms which led to the increasing violence involving gun-use. According to Dr. Jennifer Santiago Oreta, in her work entitled “Gun Proliferation and Violence”, PNP estimated of loose firearms in the country in 2009 was at 1.1 million. The highest number of illegal firearms were reported in the areas of Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, CALABARZON, Central Visayas, Southern Mindanao and Metro Manila, which was not surprising, considering that certain parts of the region were conflict areas. Based on these PNP datas, of the estimated 1.1 million loose and illegal firearms, 559,326 have expired/ not renewed licenses; 15,676 illegal firearms are in the hands of threat groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF, New People’s Army, the Abu Sayaff Group and 5, 725 illegal arms are in the hands of criminal elements.”

Ladies and gentlemen, considering all the definitions and justifications, I now appeal to all of you to approve and support the stand of the affirmative side that there be total gun ban during elections in the Philippines. We, the affirmative side, believe that the means of prohibiting gun-use would be of greater good to all Filipino people.

Thank you!

I now stand for the cross-examination.