City conducts inventory of guns

CEBU, Philippines - The city government started last Monday the inventory of all city-owned firearms in line with the Annual Report of Physical Count of Firearms required by the Commission on Audit (COA).

All departments, barangays and other agencies issued with firearms were directed to submit the guns to the General Services Office for inspection and stenciling of the serial numbers. Each unit would also be photographed.

An inventory team composed of representatives from the Office of the City Accountant, Internal Audit Services Office and COA is tasked to conduct the ocular inspection.

Last Monday, the Engineering Department, the Office of the Building Official, the Market Operations Division, the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries including the City Abattoir, the City Administrator’s Office and the Public Information Office submitted the firearms for inspection.

Thirteen other offices would have to submit their city-issued firearms until November 11, including the City Traffic Operations Management, Mayor’s Office, Squatters Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division, Cebu City Zoo, City Prosecutor’s Office, South Road Properties, City Disaster Council, Department of Public Services, GSO, Police and the courts.

The 71 barangays issued with firearms would have to turn the guns over to the city government.

Arlene Rentuza, chief of the Internal Audit Services Office, said the inventory is part of their annual routine as required by COA.

“This is to check the status and condition of our assets, whether they are lost, need repairs or destroyed,” Rentuza said.

She said they also need to know if the gun is being used by the person whose name appears in the acknowledgement receipt for the gun. A lost firearm would have to be replaced or paid for by the person accountable for it. COA will assess the value of the lost item.

Last July, GSO reported that eight firearms were lost, including those issued to a city councilor, a former mayor and barangay captain.

The city government has over 500 firearms kept in its vault while the rest are issued to department heads, barangay captains and other agencies. — (FREEMAN)