Perpetual disqualification from owning firearms awaits gun ban violators
A ranking police official warned of perpetual disqualification from owning a firearm as part of the stricter penalties against licensed gun owners who would be caught violating the implementation of gun ban in any part of the country.
Police Maj. Gen. Valeriano De Leon, director for Operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said that as licensed gun owners, they should always be aware of the rules and regulations that include complying with the gun ban implementation.
"We expect that all licensed firearms are responsible firearms holders. On the part of the PNP, we have been announcing any gun ban implementation very early and would even repeatedly remind them of this," said De Leon, who used to head the Firearms and Ordnance Office of the PNP.
"So, there should be no excuses for them if they are caught violating it, and they should be ready for all the consequences," he added.
More than 3,000 gun ban violators were caught during the election period from January 9 to June 8, as well as the violators of the six-day gun ban period in Davao Region, from June 16-21, during the inauguration of Vice President Sara Duterte; and nine violators of the most recent six-day gun ban in Metro Manila, from June 27 to July 2.
De Leon said all the cases involving licensed gun owners arrested in gun ban implementation are handled by the PNP's Firearms Revocation and Restoration Board.
He also reminded gun owners that owning firearms and allowing them to carry the firearms outside the residence are both privileges given to a person but under certain conditions that include the mental readiness to own and carry firearms and abiding by the laws and orders relating to firearm ownership.
De Leon said that those granted with the licenses and other permits pertaining to gun ownership to should always be aware of those conditions and announcements as to when and where the gun ban is implemented.