Robin Padilla shows off gun collection

On his social media page, Senator Robin Padilla showed off what he called as his "bad boy vault" containing a collection of guns, including "high-powered" ones.

Padilla said all his guns are licensed.  He has also undergone gun handling and basic combat training, according to a "24 Oras" report by Mav Gonzales.

"Mas matindi sa ginto ito. Hindi ako nagtatago ng ginto, nagtatago ako ng baril," he said.

The Facebook post, which has generated over 12 million views, stirred various reactions.

In 1992, Padilla was charged with Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. In 1994, he was convicted and sentenced to 17 to 21 years in prison. In 1997, former President Fidel Ramos granted him conditional pardon and in 2016, then President Rodrigo Duterte granted him absolute pardon.

Padilla's lawyer Rudolf Philip Jurado said that the absolute pardon restored all of Padilla's civil and political rights, including the privilege to hold a License to Own and Possess Firearm.

However, Edward Chico, a legal expert, said the absolute pardon only restores a person's civil and political rights.

"For example, right to vote, right to run for public office, right to be issued a passport," he said, noting that applying for a license to own and possess a firearm is a different matter.

"If you want a license for firearms, you might be disqualified precisely because one of the requirements is you should not have been convicted of any crime. Even if you're granted an absolute pardon, what is extinguished is the criminal liability that attaches to the crime, but not necessarily the crime itself. Parang pinatawad ka na nila pero syempre ‘di pa rin nila nakakalimutan yung kasalanan mo,” he added.

Meanwhile, the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office said since Padilla has an absolute pardon, he can now have a license for short firearms even though he was previously convicted.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News