PRO8 urges gun owners to renew licenses

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
November 5, 2012

CAMP SEC. RUPERTO K. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte  –  The Police Regional Office 8 is advising gun owners whose licenses have expired to immediately renew their licenses or face possible arrest and prosecution as it is intensifying the operation against loose firearms in the region.

Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria, PRO8 regional director, issued an ultimatum to gun owners with expired gun licenses to renew and avail of legitimate permit to carry and gun permit at home.

“The day the license expired, the firearm is considered loose weapon. Individuals with expired firearm licenses must renew them or face the wrath of the law”, Soria said, adding that they may end up being targets of search warrants and face appropriate charges not to mention stiffer penalties especially during election period.

Soria disclosed that notices are being sent to delinquent firearms’ holders advising them to renew their licenses on a specified date. If the notice is ignored, they will be forced to declare these firearms as loose weapons and apply for search warrants that will allow them to raid the house of concerned firearms’ holders and charged them with criminal cases in court.

Records at the regional firearms and license division showed that there are 19,721 registered firearms in the region and 10, 025 firearms have expired licenses.

The PNP regional chief informed that PRO8 launched a reinvigorated campaign against loose firearms as contained in “Kontra Boga - Waray” as part of the operational plans to ensure peace and order during the 2013 mid-term elections. The plan reinforces existing gun control and proliferation measures and focused on confiscating and seizing firearms from criminal elements and threat groups through the stepped-up enforcement of checkpoints, “Oplan Sita”, “Oplan Bakal”, service of warrants and internal security operations.

Soria added that this move to disarm potential troublemakers is part of their effort to have a Secure and Fair Elections 2013 (SAFE 2013), the PNP program to keep the elections safe and orderly and in support of the peace and order directive of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in preparation for the 2013 midterm elections.

Laying the groundwork for a SAFE 2013, Soria ordered police units to step-up operations to account for more loose firearms proliferating in the region to minimize violence during the May 2013 elections and urged gun owners to renew their expired licenses.

“Gun ownership bears responsibility to possess with proper license and documents”, the region’s top cop added.

Requirements for application for renewal of individual firearms license includes the photocopies of old firearm license; appointment/retirement order for government employees; subscribed application form with 2 pieces 2x2 picture with white background; Special Bank Receipt (SBR) from Land Bank of the Philippines showing payment for records authentication, gun safety fee, firearm license fee, surcharge and arrears if any; Order of Payment (OP) for ID Card, Firearms bond and reactivation fee and the Gun Safety Seminar Certificate.