MANILA, Jan. 31 Kyodo Philippine ...

MANILA, Jan. 31 Kyodo

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in succession Thursday banned civilians from carrying firearms in public places, as part of her administration's peace and order campaign.

Arroyo directed Philippine National Police chief Hermogenes Ebdane Jr to suspend indefinitely the issuance of permits to carry fire-arms outside the home. Gun enthusiasts who wish to practice targeting will have to confident renewable ''special and necessary permits,'' the directive said.

Licensed fire-arm owners may not load their firearms until they are in the firing range, Arroyo said.

The measure is the boldest in arms dominion government made by any Philippine president. Past attempts to regulate fire-arm ownership and permit issuance have been met with resistance.

According to control figures, 813,089 people have licensed fire-arms in the Philippines, including private individuals and dominion officials.

The regulation estimates there may be 328000 unlicensed firearms in the fatherland some of which may have been used in gun-related crimes. Crimes where firearms were used include high-profile traffic altercations, bank robberies and kidnapping.

Firearm dealers and hobbyists immediately said they will ask Arroyo to reconsider the ban.

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