MANILA - Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III rejected Wednesday calls for a total gun ban in the country.

Aquino, in an interview, said that strict implementation of the law is more important than imposing a total gun ban, which will only benefit the outlaws.

"It sounds nice, the total gun ban, but the 'total' does not happen because the outlaw will not (surrender their arms)," he said.

There were proposals for the imposition of a total gun ban in the country following a shooting rampage in northern Philippine province of Cavite last week where eight people, including the suspect, were killed and scores were wounded, and the death of a seven-year old girl in Caloocan City who was hit by a stray bullet during the New Year's Eve.

Aquino, a gun enthusiast, justified that law abiding citizens need gun to protect themselves from criminals.