PNP seeks DOJ opinion on final gun amnesty

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is seeking a legal opinion from the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the implementation of a final gun amnesty after the six-month period provided for it under the new gun control law lapsed.

The PNP failed to launch the final gun amnesty within six months after the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10591 were signed last January when the Supreme Court (SC) issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the new law, said Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP public information office director.

“We hope to get the DOJ opinion on the matter. The FEO (Firearms and Explosives Office) has to abide by the SC ruling,” Sindac said.

Sindac is referring to the SC’s TRO on three provisions of the new gun control law. The TRO covers the centralization of the application and renewal of the firearm licenses, the signing of the waiver by a gun license applicant that would allow the PNP personnel to visit or enter their home and the delivery of gun licenses using a private or a delivery courier or services.

With the final gun amnesty, Sindac said gun holders will have to renew their firearm licenses and their application will have to be verified and processed by the FEO.

The FEO started implementing the policy of delivering the gun license cards of gun holders to ensure they are using their legitimate addresses.

Before the enactment of RA 10591, the PNP-FEO found that 129,210 of 524,000 gun holders turned out to have fictitious addresses.