Gun owners question PNP’s license system

MANILA, Philippines - A group of gun owners questioned Friday the Philippine National Police’s P30-million deal with a firm to develop an information technology (IT) system to handle the PNP’s gun licensing and permit process.

The gun owners – some of whom filed a petition questioning the constitutionality of the new gun control law, Republic Act 10591, last month – questioned why no PNP official signed the receipts for several deliveries of equipment made by Progressive Ideas Inc. earlier this year to upgrade the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) gun license database. 

The delivery receipts indicated that several pieces of computer equipment and software were “received in good order and condition” but reportedly did not have the signature of the police official who received them, according to the petitioners.

The “approved by” and “delivered by” portions in the delivery receipts were also reportedly unsigned, they said.

The gun owners alleged that the IT system installed by Progressive Ideas frequently “crashes.”

They also said the FEO allegedly hired the services of Joseph Mendoza as a code provider and IT consultant. Mendoza is reportedly one of the shareholders of Progressive Ideas and a classmate of PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima as both men belong to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981, the gun owners said.