Verzosa renews call for gun owners to register loose firearms

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa reiterated his call for people who own “patently loose firearms” to take advantage of the government’s gun amnesty program.

Verzosa said the PNP is offering two amnesty programs: one is for those who have expired firearm licenses, and this started last Aug. 1; the other is for guns that are loose or have never been registered, and this will run from Oct. 1 to 31.

“We encourage our constituents to register their patently loose firearms to avoid legal problems in the future like heavy fines and imprisonment,” he said.

The amnesty program is also meant to minimize election-related violent incidents during the 2010 elections.

The PNP chief was in Zamboanga City to inaugurate the new offices of its Firearms and Explosives, Security Agency and Guards Section (FESAGS) as a one-stop shop for the renewal of firearms licenses and issuance of Permit To Carry Firearms Outside Residence (PTCFOR) catering to gun holders in Mindanao.

The Zamboanga satellite office is the third satellite office of its kind in the PNP, the two others being located in Cebu City and in San Fernando, La Union.

Verzosa also said the PNP is proposing amendments to the firearms law to make illegal possession of three or more firearms a non-bailable offense.

“We expect the new law on possession of firearms to have more teeth by increasing the fines and penalty of illegal possession of firearms,” he said.

Verzosa added that the PNP expects to have a full accounting of firearms in the hands of civilians as well as the military and police after Oct. 31, the end of the final amnesty granted to holders of loose firearms. – Cecille Suerte Felipe