PNP suspends gun license issuance

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has suspended for 15 days the issuance of gun licenses and permits to carry firearms outside residence following the road-rage killing of Ateneo law school graduate Jose Ramon Llamas last Jan. 10 in Pasay City.

Director Ricardo de Leon, PNP community relations chief, said Ebdane has given verbal instructions to Senior Superintendent Geary Barias, chief of the Firearms and Explosives Division, to review procedures for issuing gun licenses and permits.

"The PNP chief has issued verbal instructions to review guidelines for the issuance of the PTCFOR and licenses because of the previous incidents... and the implementation of stricter gun control as instructed by Malacañang," he said.

De Leon said on orders of Malacañang, Ebdane suspended the issuance of gun licenses and permits to carry firearms outside residence to prevent killings and other forms of violence arising from the irresponsible use of guns.

"We are holding in abeyance the issuance... we have to be very stringent in screening these applicants," he said. "The elements we have to consider here are responsible gun ownership and the carrying of firearms."

De Leon said the order will cover all individual gunholders, except security guards who are required to carry service firearms.

"(The issue such as) who will be granted authority to carry firearms outside of residence will be reviewed," he said.

The PNP will have to determine the duration of the suspension order, he added.

De Leon said the PNP has also intensified the campaign against loose firearms after the FED found out that the name of Cola Ditato, the suspected killer of Llamas, did not appear in the official roster of licensed gunholders.

Under present guidelines, applicants for a gun license must first pass a drug and psychotic test, they must have no criminal record, and must belong to a legitimate gun club.

"Licensed gunholders must not display the firearm to public view, it must not be carried in public drinking places... or while attending civic, political or religious rallies and meetings," according to conditions for issuing a permit to carry firearms outside residence.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. has ordered the PNP to thoroughly review existing systems and procedures on the issuance of gun licenses and permits to carry firearms outside residence to private individuals and organizations.

He also directed the PNP to maintain an updated database on all licensed gunholders and to spearhead a campaign for responsible and proper use of firearms.

Lina said the PNP has seized a total of 7,633 loose firearms last year, while some 6,248 were confiscated in 2001.

The number of loose firearms nationwide have reached an estimated 328,329, Lina added.

An unidentified motorcyclist shot dead Llamas, 26, who took the bar examinations last year, at the corner of Taft and Gil Puyat Avenues in Pasay City last Jan. 10 after a traffic altercation.