PNP contractor hit for slow service, exorbitant fees

MANILA, Philippines - A contractor tapped by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to deliver firearms licenses to gun owners charges “exorbitant” fees for slow service, a group of gun owners said yesterday.

Lawyer Rod Moreno, vice president of Gun Owners Against Congressional Tyranny said Werfast Documentation Agency – which bagged a five-year contract with the PNP in February 2013 to deliver licenses around the country – has been the subject of complaints by gun owners for the non-delivery and delays in the delivery of their licenses.

Moreno alleged that Werfast may be using another courier firm to deliver the cards.

He also said the P190 fee for Metro Manila residents and P290 fee for provincial residents are too high compared to rates by other courier service firms.

Close ties?

Securities and Exchange Commission records show that a certain Mario Juan, reportedly a close friend of PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, was among the original owners of Werfast.

Amended incorporation papers of Werfast show that the current president of the company is Ireno Bacolod, a retired police general. Bacolod, also the former head of the PNP Civil Security Group (CSG), allegedly has close ties with Purisima as well.

Purisima earlier ordered the closure of CSG’s satellite offices, which are tasked to process the licensing of firearms across the country.

Gun owners will now have to go to the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame for license renewal and other transactions, while their license cards will be delivered by Werfast to their respective homes.

This policy was implemented to ensure that the gun owners really live in the addresses they indicated in their application forms, according to the PNP.