CEBU - The Firearms Explosives Security Agency and Guards Supervisory Section-7 recorded fewer guns registered in its office as the PNP Gun Amnesty Program officially ended yesterday.
Chief Insp. Jacinto Caesar, chief of the FESAGSS-7, said based on the past gun amnesty program of the PNP, the numbers of gun owners renewing and registering their firearms are lesser, and attributed this to two major factors.
First is the implementation of Executive Order 585 that prohibits the registration of homemade or “paltik” firearms.
Second is the much-higher cost of registration and license fees excluding other fees for clearances from courts and other government agencies as a requisite before owning a gun legally.
Most of the gun owners who opted to have their guns registered were businessmen, business establishments with security and security agencies and police retirees. Individuals must present valid reasons supported by documents of ownership.
Caesar has yet to determine the exact number of the recently registered firearms and those that are already expired.
Gun owners who failed to renew their licenses can be charged for illegal possession of firearms if caught.
The gun amnesty program was first implemented in 1993. Since then the PNP has initiated the program yearly to minimize and account for loose firearms in the country.
It is also through these fees collected from gun owners that the PNP hopes to afford a high-tech firearms identification system that could boost its capability in storing records of every registered firearm for future use.
Because of the EO 585 some of the homemade or paltiks that were once registered and licensed are now considered loose firearms.
Many criminals were found to be using homemade firearms which are very difficult to trace except for those actually caught or seized by law enforcement officers.
Police Regional Office-7 Director Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos said homemade guns should not be blamed for crimes but rather the people using them.
He said the law enforcement agencies especially the PNP is doing its best to prevent crimes by implementing proactive anti-crime campaigns.
Prohibiting homemade guns and obtaining licenses will discourage illegal gun manufacturers and benefit legitimate gun manufacturers including those who import their products.
However, Roderos said they also feel for skilled local gunsmiths who have to work clandestinely.
He urged the government to invite foreign gun manufacturers to invest in the country and to let skilled gunsmiths work legally. — Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP (THE FREEMAN)