MANILA, Philippines - Over 9,000 firearm licenses have been revoked by the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) for various reasons, including the involvement of the gun owners in illegal drugs.
FEO director Chief Supt. Cesar Hawthorne Binag said licenses of some 9,091 firearms owned by 285 individuals, corporations and agencies were revoked in 2016.
Binag said 419 of the firearms were registered under the names of 84 individuals linked to illegal drugs while 8,640 firearms were registered with juridical entities like private security agencies and other corporations.
He noted that among the gun licenses nullified belonged to Vhon Martin Tanto, the man charged with murder in connection with the killing of cyclist Mark Vincent Garalde over a traffic altercation on P. Casal St. in Manila.
An 18-year-old girl was also seriously wounded when she was hit by a stray bullet from the gun used by Tanto.
He said that shortly after we received a copy of the charges against Tanto, the FEO immediately revoked the licenses of the guns owned by the suspect so the police could arrest him for carrying loose firearms.
The STAR also learned that the so-called narco-generals have also turned over their firearms after they were informed about the cancellations of the firearm licenses in connection with the pronouncement of President Duterte.
Binag clarified that the cancellation of firearm licenses were not unilaterally done by the FEO chief but was a decision made by a board composed of 13 senior police officers.
At the same time, Binag said the FEO has been actively supporting police units going after individuals with criminal offenses.
Binag said the FEO facilitated a total of 21,143 firearm records verification request from PNP units, courts, prosecution offices and Office of the Ombudsman in eight months from March to October in 2016.
Under the Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms Control Law, the PNP chief or his/her authorized representative may revoke, cancel or suspend a license or permit for several reasons, including commission of a crime or offense involving the firearm, ammunition or major parts or pendency of a criminal case involving the firearm/ ammunition.
Firearm licenses may also be revoked after conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude or any offense where the penalty is imprisonment of more than six (6) years.
Another factor is the loss of the firearm, ammunition or any parts thereof through negligence; and carrying of the firearm, ammunition or major parts outside the residence or workplace without the proper permit to carry the gun and carrying of the firearm, ammunition or major parts thereof in prohibited places.
Firearm licenses may also be revoked after dismissal for cause from the service in case of government official and employees and commission of any acts penalized under Republic
Act 9165, the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.”
Submission of falsified documents or misrepresentation in the application to obtain license or permit; noncompliance of reportorial requirements, and court order were also factors in revoking licenses.