2,522 village execs own 3,041 loose guns

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 2,522 barangay officials across the country are in possession of loose firearms, the Civil Security Group (CSG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced yesterday.

The PNP wrote the Department of the Interior and Local Government to seek assistance in reminding the barangay officials who own guns with expired licenses to renew their permits.

Based on PNP-CSG records, these barangay officials have 3,041 firearms with expired licenses.

CSG director Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo Jr. reminded the officials to immediately renew their firearms or the agency will initiate legal proceedings against them.

“After giving them three notices, we will subject them to revocation proceedings,” Silo said.

The PNP has intensified its drive against loose firearms in preparation for the barangay ang Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Oct. 30.

Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas, PNP Firearms and Explosives director, had earlier reminded barangay officials that they are not exempted from rules and regulations governing firearms.

Lucas said that aside from imprisonment, the unlicensed guns of these local officials would be confiscated.

The CSG said its one-stop shop at Camp Crame is receiving applications for firearms registration even on weekends.

As of June 2, up to 539,000 or 25.66 percent of the 2.1 million registered firearms in the CSG database have expired licenses.

About 50 percent of the loose firearms are owned by barangay officials.