AMID fears that some of them really pose a threat to other persons, the Philippine National Police has revoked the gun permits of 377 gun-holders, who have submitted fake neuro-psychiatric tests, the Journal Group learned.

According to PNP Civil Security Group director Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr., the 377 will also be perpetually disqualified from applying for firearm licenses.

“This is very dangerous to the public. Just imagine what will happen if an addict, a psychotic or a person who is prone to road rage is allowed to roam the streets with a gun in his hand.

Worst of all, what if our relatives or our friends become their victims,” said Silo.

In a report to PNP chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., the PNP-CSG director said that out of the 377, a total of 64 individual gun-holders were found to have no neuro-psychiatric test while the rest failed the test but managed to pass it days later, violating a rule that an individual who fails the NP test can take it six months after.

“The License to Own and Possess Firearms, the Firearm Registration and Permit-to-Carry-Firearms-Outside-of-Residence’ of the 377 individuals have already been revoked and their licensed guns subjected to recall proceedings would be forfeited in favor of the government,” Silo said.

The official said their investigation showed that all 377 applied for the new PNP Firearms Registration System but after failing their NP tests reverted to the old PNP registration system which was revoked due to being prone to corruption.

“Nung nakakita sila ng connection na nagsabing puwedeng mabaliktad ang resulta ng NP and they can apply for firearm licenses using the old system, they went for it.

Sad to say, some unscrupulous PNP personnel are involved in this anomaly as they were found to have asked P30,000 to as much as P35,000 from each applicant,” Silo said.

The PNP Firearms and Explosives Office headed by Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth T. Lucas has issued a resolution revoking the LTOPF, Firearm Registration and PTCFORs of the 377 gun-holders, the Journal Group was told.

The PNP-CSG director said they were able to identify at least five PNP Health Service personnel who were believed to be behind the lucrative racket.

The five will be facing criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman and the PNP Internal Affairs Service respective, he added.

To avoid a repetition of the irregularity, the PNP-CSG director said he has directed all CSG-FEO field commanders to ensure that their personnel will be using their new Firearm Information Management System, which has already been fully enhanced following a study made by their Technical Working Group and their IT specialists.

Silo said they are studying the ‘command responsibility’ of some concerned PNP officials regarding the fake or altered NP tests presented by the 377 gun-holders.

“Serious ako dito. Kahit sino ang tamaan, I don’t care. Ang Bible namin sa CSG, the FEO and sa SOSIA is the Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corruption Act, RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and RA 11032 or the Anti-Red Tape Law and ease of doing business in the country,” the PNP-CSG director said.

RA 3019 calls on all public officials and employees to uphold the time-honored principle of public office being a public trust.

RA 6713 says that ‘public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives and uphold public interest over personal interest.

On the other hand, RA 11032 created the Anti-Red Tape Authority or ARTA, the government agency mandated to administer and implement the said law and its implementing rules and regulations and at the same time monitor and ensure compliance with the national policy on anti-red tape and ease of doing business in the country.

“I have already warned my officers and men na pag me evidence laban sa kanila, hahabulin ko sila,” said the official who also happens to be a lawyer.