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So, in all our months of digging into gun licenses - there's been one recurrent theme: people with criminal records are not entitled to a gun license.
And when it does happen - and we've seen it happen more than a few times in fraudulent issuances - the licenses usually end up being revoked.
But, not for everyone. Last night we asked the Commissioner of Police about the Mayor of Benque Viejo, Jorge Rosales. The Compol conceded he does have a criminal record and a gun license - but it's ok because his record dates back 20 years.
But, what if it doesn't? Jules Vasquez dug into his trove of documents to unearth the evidence which suggests the COMPOL is either really confused, or….just straight up misrepresenting the facts:
When the commissioner of police showed us the register of gun licenses housed in his office - he said no one with a criminal record can be granted a license - and added that even someone who has been detained cannot qualify for one.
In later interviews he has elaborated on this:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I am extremely meticulous in terms of who I issue licenses to and even though we have background checks that is done by special branch, I also have a mechanism within my office where we also do further checks on these persons who are applying for gun licenses to make sure that we don't give gun licenses to the wrong persons."
He told us those further background checks extend to anyone who has even been detained for a crime.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"When it comes to issuing of a gun license, if the vetting is bad, I will not issue it."
But, yesterday, when confronted with the fact that the mayor of Benque Viejo has a criminal record going back to
Reporter:
"Sir but what do you do in those cases? They have a police record, do you rescind their license?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I don't know when the people are going to give it up. If a person has a criminal record, I think in the case of the Mayor of Benque, that's an extremely old matter compared to Shyne's one, I think from he was a little boy. Man is a big man now, that's over 20 years ago."
But, actually it isn't. Shyne Barrow's one was in 1999, Mayor Jorge Rosales was convicted and fined 5 years ago.
This record 7news has obtained shows that he was convicted in 2018, of all things, a firearm offense - possession of a weapon while under the influence.
And in 2022 - he was accused again - even if not charged:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"No, I'm not aware of that. I know that yes there was a domestic issue between the mayor and his wife or whatever and that matter got the intervention of the police. The lady did not request any court action, but in terms of a weapon being drawn, no, I'm not aware of that, no."
So, there is a double standard - one for regular people and one for politicians:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"He have certainly proved himself to be an outstanding person, he's the mayor of a town. If a person have an old criminal record and have shown that since then they have become a better person, they have paid their dues to society, they are established business people, I don't see why they should be denied."
And so while clearly Mayor Rosales has the moves on the stage - it's also clear that with political protection - he has also been able to dance around the gun license regulations.
Regarding the incident in 2022, pictures posted on Facebook suggested that it looked to be a case of wounding, but charges were not brought.
