Gun owners welcome offer on amnesty for licensing of loose firearms

Many illegal firearm holders in Cebu City and in other parts of the region welcomed the announcement of a Malacañang official of another amnesty for the licensing of loose guns without requiring its owners to secure documents.

Barangay tanods and some members of different police auxiliary forces are among those who possessed unlicensed firearms that they use to protect themselves while they assist the police in maintaining peace and order.

"Maayo unta og madali na nga amnesty kay maayo g'yod nga lisensyado ang atong gidala-dala nga armas, " one of the tanods of barangay Lorega-San Miguel said because he missed a similar amnesty for firearms registration that ended on September 30, 1995.

An official of the Association of Barangay Councils in Cebu City yesterday admitted that many of the tanods are in possession of unlicensed firearms because only a few of the barangays can afford to buy guns for their personnel tasked to maintain peace and order.

Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno earlier said in line with Malacanang's sustained efforts to combat terrorism and other security threats, the government would soon implement an amnesty program on unlicensed firearms.

Puno said the amnesty program, which will be carried out "in a month or two" would help the government stop the proliferation of loose firearms and recover unregistered guns that could possibly be used to commit criminal acts.

"It would help our law enforcers a lot in their fight against crime and terrorism if the government knows how many non-law enforcement personnel own guns and to whom do these belong to," Puno said. When the six months amnesty ended in September 30, 2005, the local firearms and explosives division at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. managed to register close to 10,000 loose firearms.

Unlicensed guns are very easy to secure through the clandestine gunsmith in Danao City for only P2,000 for a revolver and P6,000 for a pistol. - Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV