Pulis na ang nag-adjust: PNP urges gun owners with expired licenses to avail of weekend registration
The Civil Security Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-CSG) urged on Thursday, June 15, all gun owners with expired licenses to take advantage of the weekend firearms registrations in all police camps and satellite offices in malls across the country.
PNP-CSG director Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo, Jr. said the weekend opening of their offices started on June 10 and is a way of adjusting to the busy schedules of gun owners during week days, one of the main reasons for the high registered firearms with expired licenses.
Based on the PNP data, there are around 2.1 million registered firearms in the country and around 539,000 of them have expired licenses. Metro Manila has the most guns with expired licenses, followed by Region 4A and Central Luzon.
“Our main consideration in opening our offices during weekends is to make it comfortable and convenient to the gun owners who are working on private and government agencies from Monday to Friday,” said Silo.
“Since they are busy during weekdays, this will be the opportunity for them to come to Camp Crame or our offices in the provinces and our satellite offices in SM malls to avail of our services,” he added.
During the June 10 and June 11 weekend opening of CSG office at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Silo disclosed that there were 63 people who registered their firearms and availed of License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF).
On June 10, he said 28 people availed of LTOPF and gun registration while 33 underwent drug tests. A total of 62 others underwent neuro exam while 17 obtained National Police Clearance.
On June 11, Sunday, he said 16 people availed of LTOPF while 19 others sought firearms registration. A total of 16 people underwent drug tests. 23 for neuro exam and three availed of National Police Clearance.
Drug test, neuro exam and police clearance are among the requirements to obtain LTOPF and eventually secure a gun. All of them are available in the “One-Stop” shop of the CSG at Camp Crame.
The CSG is yet to consolidate the number of people who availed of its services in the provinces.
Silo said the availability of firearms registration and other services of the CSG during the weekend will continue as it was already approved by PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda.
He also emphasized the need to register firearms, explaining that based on the law, unregistered firearms and those with expired licenses are considered as loose guns which make the holder liable and eventually could be slapped with criminal charges with years of prison terms.
“So we encourage our clients to take advantage of these services during weekends. This is for them, for their comfort and for their convenience,” said Silo.