FED chief Senior Superintendent Geary Barias said applicants for gun licenses will be required to make a personal appearance before FED officials unlike in the past when permits were processed only based on documents submitted to the unit.
"Better documentation of firearms will make life easier for us. An effective repository of information, including pictures for identity, background of the applicant and ballistics information of firearm, will allow law enforcers to trace gun holders who commit crimes," he said.
Barias also said fly-by-night drug and neuro centers will be the subjects of an intensified police crackdown. Only drug psychiatric tests conducted by accredited Department of Health (DOH) centers will be entertained by the PNP, he pointed out.
He said the PNP stands loose some P12.5 million in revenues from trust fund receipts during the 15-day suspension period. The FED is the top income-producing unit of the PNP, generating some P300 million in 2002 for licensing alone.
Meanwhile, the head of a leading gun dealers’ association backed the PNP’s latest move, saying it would help firearms dealers nationwide rid the industry of illegal manufacturers and traders.
"Our position is to support the action of President Arroyo, the PNP chief and the DILG secretary. Reviewing the licensing system will help rid us of illegal firearms dealers and manufacturers. The result will allow good and truly law abiding citizens to get licenses expeditiously," said Demetriu Tuazon, president of the Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers (AFAD).
However, he also pointed out that stricter gun control measures may lead to the further proliferation of illegal firearms.
While supportive of the move of the PNP to temporarily suspend the issuance of gun licenses and permits, Tuazon batted for a more efficient, expeditious and orderly processing of licenses.
Tuazon added that the 15-day suspension will "definitely affect our sales" although they are willing to "make the sacrifice" in view of the pending review.
He said violent incidents arising from the irresponsible use of firearms should not be attributed solely to the lack of stricter guidelines.
"In fact, stricter guidelines could lead to the proliferation of illegal guns," he said. "We could be facing even more cases of illegal firearms ownership and manufacturing," he said.