PNP to go after gun holders with expired licenses

MANILA, Philippines - Gun holders whose licenses have expired for more than a year will be charged with illegal possession of firearms and a court warrant would be secured to seize their guns, police said yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman, said based on the records of the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO), the large bulk of loose firearms are in the hands of holders with expired licenses.

“The last gun amnesty was in 2010, and it is about time to apply for search warrants so we can account for all firearms with un-renewed or expired licenses,” he said.

The National Secretariat for Firearm Control (NSFC) is giving gun holders six months to renew their licenses after their expiration and a timeframe of another six months to apply warrants against them for non-compliance, he added.

The NSFC was formed to account for all firearms with expired licenses following reports that a majority of criminals commit crimes using loose firearms.

Cruz said the PNP has no policy to regulate the number of firearms an individual can acquire for as long as he renews the licenses and meets all requirements.

“A gun enthusiast or sports shooter is allowed to acquire several guns,” he said, adding this was needed during competitions and that is why they could not limit ordinary Filipinos to own just one gun.

At least 500,000 firearms are registered at the FEO, but a number of them are not re-registered because of high renewal costs, while others were lost by their owners.

The PNP, with the approval of the national government, has had several firearms amnesty campaign to entice firearms holders to register their loose firearms and raise revenue for the government.

But reports said these campaigns did not fare well because of the strict documentary requirements, ballistics examination, and costly and circuitous gun documentation.