900 gun owners apply for amnesty program

Over 900 unlicensed gun holders have applied to avail of the government's amnesty program for firearm license without requiring documents, police said Friday.

It is expected that many loose firearm holders will troop to the firearms and explosive section at the Police Regional Office-7 to have their guns licensed before the amnesty would end on September 30.

It was learned that most of those who availed of the amnesty are holders of .45 cal. pistols, while a few others have .357 magnum revolvers.

"Pareho ra man god ang bayad sa lisensya sa armas kon .45 cal. pistol ug .38 cal. nga revolver ang palisensyahan," a police officer explained.

Gunholders are required only to pay P2,000 directly to the Land Bank of the Philippines, while P3,000 for the high-powered guns.

Of the gun holders who availed of the amnesty program more eighty percent were from Cebu City and province while the rest were from Negros Oriental and Bohol.

It was observed that many who own unlicensed guns want to have their guns licensed, but do not know on how to avail of the government's amnesty program.

President Gloria Arroyo issued an Executive Order 390 late last year allowing the police to accept the licensing of loose firearms as one way to earn additional revenue and to account the unlicensed guns.

The police do not have specific statistics of how many loose firearms are now in the hands of the civilians in the region, particularly in Cebu with the manufacturing of guns by the illegal gunsmith in Danao City

Camp Crame had legalized the operation of the Workers League of Danao Multipurpose Cooperative, a group of gunsmith in Danao City, but there are still many gunsmiths who continued their illegal activities and sell their products to anybody who can pay.

A Danao-made revolver can be had for only P800 or more depending on the quality, while a .45 cal. pistol can be bought at P6,000 to P12,000.

The only documents required for those who wish to avail the amnesty is birth or marriage certificates as proof of identity and a proof of billing or certification from the barangay captain that he or she is a bonafide resident of a place.