Drive of PNP 8 vs loose firearms yields 65 so far, PNP 8 Director says

Tacloban City (August 17) — In line with the PNP’s drive against loose firearms, the Philippine National Police in Region 8 has already recovered around 65 unlicensed or loose firearms.

Police Regional Office 8 Director Mario Sandiego presented the recovered firearms to PNP Chief Jesus Versoza during the Press Conference held at the VIP Lounge of the Tacloban Airport late in the afternoon of August 13.

The said undertaking is under the Operation Bakal which is part of the National Firearms Amnesty program, Director Sandiego said.

PNP Chief Verzosa lauded the PNP Region 8 officials and men for this job well done saying that civilians or personnel with unregistered or unlicensed firearms must surrender them to the police station nearest them or they may go directly to the regional office of the PNP so that said firearms could be accounted for.

Director San Diego said that ten search warrants have been searched by the PNP 8; nine checkpoints have been set all over the Region; and 54 firearms have been recovered from civilians, 29 of which are high-powered while the remaining 36 are low –powered.

In implementing this program, the Philippine National Police aims to minimize the number of election-related violent incidents. It also aims to control the proliferation of unlicensed firearms which at present, has an estimated 400, 000 loose firearms nationwide.

Statistics shows that there are around one million loose firearms throughout the country. He said that of these around one million loose firearms are in the hands of civilians, many of which are being used in the commission of crimes.

Of the registered gun-related incidence, 97.7 percent was committed through the use of loose firearms and the remaining 2.3 percent were made through the use of registered firearms.

General Verzosa told the local newsmen that of the estimated one million loose firearms all over the country, about half were those classified as unre-registered or those with expired license which the owners of the guns failed to renew or did not register anymore.

Of the remaining 50 percent of the one million, around 80 to 90 percent are those belonging to civilians which are being kept by them in their homes.

The other 20 to 30 percent, he said, are distributed to the New People’s Army and members of the communist party, the terrorists, the Muslim secessionists and organized and criminal elements.

He said that based on statistics, the violent crimes all over the Philippines are undertaken through the use of firearms, thus the need for the PNP to address the proliferation of loose firearms.

The World Health Organization ranked the Philippines as number 10 internationally among countries having the highest number of gun-related homicides.

He also said that statistics showed that most of the election-related incidences were also committed with the use of firearms, most of which are loose or illegal.

The PNP is for putting stiffer penalties for gun possession to curb violations. At present, General Verzosa said, even if a person is caught with a truckload of firearms, he can still post bail under the present firearms law if he has the money to post bail for each count of loose firearms.

In the same manner that if he person is caught with a canon or howitzer, he still can post bail under the present law.

This makes the issue of unlicensed and loose firearms very urgent, especially because of the national and local elections next year, Verzosa added. (PIA