Benguet PPO overshoots gun amnesty target

by SC Aro

La Trinidad, Benguet (12 December) — The Provincial Police Office accounted a total of 333 firearms surpassing its target in the government’s efforts to intensify campaign against loose firearms.

Chief, Operations Division and Plans P/C Insp. Andres Narvaez said this represents 17.5 percent which is more than the 15 percent or 286 target for the five month period implementation of the program. However, these figures are a portion of the 1,903 total loose firearms accounted for the province.

This is in line with Executive Order 817 issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo implementing the National Firearms Control Program. The Philippine National Police conducted a final general firearms amnesty program which started in July 2009 and ended November 30, 2009.

The program is geared towards reducing by at least three percent monthly the number of estimated loose firearms nationwide.

Accounted under the Kontra Boga operations were 61 firearms and 257 under Bilang Boga. Kontra Boga seeks to run after organized crime groups utilizing illegal firearms in their notorious activities. Bilang Boga accounts for firearms with expired licenses and those unregistered in the possession of ordinary citizens and also those assigned to government offices.

Firearms under Custodia Legis totaled 15. These are firearms in the custody of a judicial entity or Office of the Prosecutor as evidence in the prosecution of a case.

The gun amnesty is an ultimate opportunity for delinquent firearms holders to renew their licenses and for unregistered firearms holders to have their firearms licensed in accordance with the guidelines issued by the PNP.

The directive is based on the principle on the proliferation of loose fire arms which has been identified as one of the obstacles in the pursuit of peace and order. (PIA-Benguet)