MANILA—Senator Panfilo Lacson urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday to be more rigorous in carrying out gun-control measures in light of the killing of a party-list lawmaker.

At the rate murder is being committed with impunity, it’s time for the PNP to impose stricter gun control measures. For a start, try canceling all PTCFOR’s. Anybody in civvies carrying FA’s must be assumed to have criminal intent and apprehended on the spot.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) December 22, 2018

"At the rate murder is being committed with impunity, it’s time for the PNP to impose stricter gun control measures," Lacson, a former police chief, said in a tweet.

"For a start, try canceling all PTCFOR’s (permit to carry firearms outside of residence). Anybody in civvies carrying FA’s (firearms) must be assumed to have criminal intent and apprehended on the spot."

In a later tweet responding to a Twitter user, Lacson clarified he "should've said suspend, not cancel."

The senator made the call following the murder of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe.

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Batocabe, 52, was shot dead by still unidentified assailants on Saturday afternoon during a gift-giving activity in his hometown Daraga in Albay. He was eyeing the Daraga mayoralty.

Meanwhile, Batocabe's colleagues at the House of Representatives have raised a P3-million reward for anyone who can provide information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

Police have also formed a special task force to investigate the murder.

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