PRO8 intensifies drive vs. loose firearms ahead of 2013 polls

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
October 24, 2012

CAMP SEC. RUPERTO K. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte  –  The accounting of loose firearms is now the top priority of the Police Regional Office 8 as it gears up its security preparations for next year’s mid-term elections even as it urged gun holders to renew their expired licenses.

Police Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria directed all provincial and city directors to keep a watchful eye and to arrest persons who are keeping unregistered firearms.

“The proliferation of loose firearms has remained as a critical obstacle in the fight against criminality since majority of all the crime incidents involving firearms were committed using loose or unregistered firearms,” Soria said.

Soria reported that since January 1 this year, PRO8 has accounted a total of 532 assorted loose firearms of which 269 were with unrenewed licenses, 13 from threat groups, 21 from criminal elements and 229 from the hand of general public.

He also urged the gun owners to renew their expired licenses because PRO8 has intensified operations against illegal possession of firearms in connection with the elections in May 2013.

The Regional Director added that once the license of a gun has expired, it is already considered a loose firearm and gun owners were allowed a grace period of six months to renew their gun licenses. “When the gun licenses have not been renewed after the six months grace period, then they will be subjected to police operations or search warrant.”, the police official added.

He said that they duly informed gun owners about the expiration of their licenses and urged them to renew papers. “Revoked gun licenses may still be renewed subject to fines and penalties. A gun owner with expired license when caught will be charged with illegal possession of firearms.”, Soria said.

He added that it is also the law which will determine if an applicant is fit to carry a gun. The gun owner must be a Filipino citizen, of legal age, possesses business permit for businessmen, oath of office for professionals and he must pay the corresponding fees.

Once a license is granted, the gun owner is allowed to carry the firearm inside his residence only. If he wishes to carry it outside his house, he should apply for a permit to carry outside residence, Soria explained.

“This campaign would reduce the chance of loose firearms being used in election related crimes which may derail the realization of a peaceful, orderly, and credible electoral exercise next year”, he added.

As this developed, one Michael Hinampas y Genito, 36, married, motorcycle (habal-habal) driver and a resident of Brgy. Imelda, Silago, Southern Leyte personally appeared to Silago Police Station and turned-over one unit homemade shotgun (12 gauge) locally known as “boga” to Police Senior Inspector Marianito Malibago. Said firearm is now under the custody of Silago Police Station for safekeeping.

In Sitio Litong-litong, Brgy. Lipata, Paranas, Samar, a police team led by PO3 Sherwin Martin arrested one Gerardo Abanag y Abantao, 40, married, a resident of said place, while in possession of an unlicensed caliber .38 Armscor revolver bearing serial number 3529XV with 6 live ammunitions. Subject is in the custody of said station.

Meanwhile, in Brgy. Borac, Naval, Biliran, one Allan Calde y Arneo, 29, married, fisherman, a resident of said place, was arrested by a police team led by SPO2 Jovencio Abe. Confiscated from the suspect is an improvised PVC cannon locally known as “boga”, a rifle replica with plastic barrel equipped with gas tank and loaded with marbles serving as bullet. A case for violation of RA 8294 was filed against the suspect at the Office of Provincial Prosecutor in Biliran.