PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., on Monday, said they are monitoring a total of 48 “private armed groups” (PAGs) that may pose a threat to the holding of a peaceful and orderly October Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

“Ahead of the October election, PNP units in six regions of the country are continuously monitoring the activities of three active private armed groups and 45 potential PAGs with estimated more or less 200 members with almost 400 firearms that may be used for partisan activities in the 2023 BSKE,” the top cop told a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Acorda also said that certain decisions, like suspending the BSKE in the province of Negros Oriental, all lie in the hands of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which will also make its ruling based on the recommendation of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“We will be giving our input from the national level but I do believe there is no serious threat right now sa Negros. Bumaba na ako dun, talked with the people. Oo, nalulungkot sila pero are making sure na mas mapapabilis ang pagbabalik ng normalcy sa probinsiya,” he said.

As part of their effort to ensure “an honest, peace and credible” BSKE, police units across the country have intensified their effort to account for over 539,000 unlicensed firearms that can be used to disrupt the forthcoming polls, Acorda said.

Acorda said that they are also monitoring the activities of 48 PAGs continuously, three of them tagged as “active’”and the 45 other “potential’ PAGs from Regions 1, 5, 6, 13, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

“I would like to reiterate my directive to all Regional Directors to intensify the campaign against these groups and ensure that they will not be utilized in this upcoming Barangay and SK elections,” the top cop said.

Records from the PNP Directorate for Operations Law Enforcement Division showed that as of May 9 this year, there are a total of 475,125 private gun-holders who have not yet renewed their individual firearm licenses, while 63,553 juridical entities are also yet to renew their gun papers.

PNP Director for Operations, Brigadier Gen. Leo M. Francisco, said there are also ongoing efforts to account for at least 11,602 other loose firearms.

Another top PNP official, PNP Civil Security Group (PNP-CSG) director Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Silo Jr. also renewed his call on all PNP commanders and other law enforcement agencies in the country to ensure that their personnel will renew their gun licenses and other permits too.

According to Silo, they have called the attention of the heads of other Law Enforcement Agencies or LEAs nationwide to ask their men to renew their expired License to Own and Possess Firearms or LTOFPs and Firearms Registration.

PNP-CSG records showed that as of last May 5, there are a total of 539,662 firearms with expired registration papers. They consist of 476,164 licensed citizens and 63,498 juridical entities.

There are also a total of 816,136 expired LTOPFs to date, with 815,638 of them issued to licensed showed expired registration papers. They consist of 476,164 licensed citizens and 63,498 juridical entities.

There are also a total of 816,136 expired LTOPFs to date, with 815,638 of them issued to licensed citizens and the rest juridical entities.

“Right now, we’re having our campaign against loose firearms, believe it will make a significant impact in the country’s peace and order situation, particularly during the October polls,” Silo said.

“We have recommended to the (PNP chief) that all PNP personnel must renew their gun licenses. We are also asking other LEAs to comply with the requirement of the law. If we will comply with the law, I see no reason for the public not to comply too. If you own a gun license, be a responsible firearm holder,” he added.

Francisco said that their records showed that there are about 9,700 policemen and some 9,200 AFP personnel who have not renewed their gun licenses to date.

“Having that big number of soldiers and policemen with unrenewed firearm licenses, we have to start telling our personnel to renew their licenses para maging modelo kami ng mga civilians,” the official emphasized.