GUN-RELATED violence nationwide have gone down over the past two years even as the Philippine National Police expressed confidence that revised rules that will allow civilians to own semi-automatic rifles will help further reduce crime incidents across the country.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said in 2022, they recovered 5,172 crime incidents involving the use of firearms followed by 4,956 in 2023.

So far this year, 808 cases involving guns have been investigated by the police force, she added.

The official said majority of these incidents involve shootings, alarm and scandal, robbery and grave threats.

During those three periods, a total of 3,792 criminal cases were filed in court, 3,774 were referred to the prosecutor’s offices and 1,136 are still under investigation.

Col. Fajardo said as of last March 8, latest PNP records show that there are a total of 701,402 firearms with expired licenses.

The official added that by regulating the sale of semi-automatic rifles, the PNP is also encouraging responsible gun ownership.

She said the proposal to allow the registration or renewal of light weapons is also separate from the nationwide gun amnesty being proposed by the PNP this year.

“One of the intentions of the PNP in pushing for amendments of certain provisions of the law is to really encourage people to register their guns and reduce the number of loose firearms since guns with expired licenses or registration papers are already classified as loose firearms,” Col. Fajardo explained.

DENIES IRR AMENDMENT AIMED VS FOREIGN AGRESSORS

The PNP spokesperson categorically denied that the revised IRR on Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 signed by PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. was aimed at arming Filipinos with rifles they can use to repel would-be foreign invaders.

“We categorically deny that it (arming Filipinos) is part of the PNP’s intention to prepare our private citizens against any foreign invasion and other threats,” Col. Fajardo said,

Instead, she said it is part of the PNP’s effort to convince more Filipino gun-holders to be responsible gun-holders

She also allayed fears by some lawmakers and some private citizens that it could result to more mayhem in the country.

“On the contrary, we expect crime to further gone down and solve more crimes once we are able to register more guns in our database as they could be easily traced once used in the commission of any crime,” Col. Fajardo said.

WATCHING FOR FOREIGNERS WITH GUNS

Col. Fajardo said the PNP Civil Security Group, the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have joined forces in watching and investigating foreigners including Chinese mainlanders who are in possession of guns in the country.

There have been observations that Chinese nationals involved in organized crime activities in the country have been getting high-powered firearms from the underworld or courtesy of their Filipino bodyguards who are buying guns for their employers’ use.

The official said the PNP-FEO and the PNP-CSG have the ‘visitorial powers’ to check Protective Agents who are reported to be allowing their VIPs to use guns registered under their names.

Col. Fajardo warned any Filipino allowing themselves to be ‘dummies’ of foreign nationals wanting to possess guns in the country that they will be facing the full wrath of the law once they commit the offense.

There have been several highly-publicized cases in which heavily-armed Chinese nationals involved in kidnapping-for-ransom and POGO activities yielded guns during police operations. Some armed Chinese suspects have also been killed in gunbattles with anti-kidnapping agents in the past.

Although foreigners are not allowed to own licensed firearms in the country, Col. Fajardo said some of them may be allowed to have one if they would meet all the requirements and none of the disqualification. Col. Fajardo referred to foreigners with legitimate business companies in the country who feel they are under serious threats.

“Provided they pass thru the process, they (some foreigners) may be allowed to own a gun but they cannot circumvent the law. It is also possible that some Filipinos are buying registered guns for use of their foreign patrons but that is against the law, illegal transfer of firearm is against the law and it is a punishable offense,” the PNP spokesperson said.

In order to own a registered firearm in the country, one must pass all stringent requirements like the Neuro-Psychiatric and Drug Test and submit all documents required by the PNP-FEO.

NO INTENTION TO VIOLATE THE LAW

Col. Fajardo said that by amending the definition of the ‘small arms’ and ‘rifle’ in the IRR of the RA 10591, the PNP really has no intention to commit any act that is already well outside of the ambit of its authority.

Some approved revisions in the IRR of RA 10591 now allow civilian gun owners to own and register as high as caliber 7.62mm semi-automatic rifles. The revisions were made following a recommendation by a Technical Working Group from the PNP Civil Security Group headed by Major Gen. Benjamin H. Silo Jr.

Thus, minor assessments were made to the IRR particularly in Section 36.6, allowing private citizens to license semi-automatic rifles, specifically those chambered in 7.62 or lower, Fajardo said.

When RA 10591 was passed into law in 2013, civilians who are already licensed owners of cal. 5.56 rifles were allowed to hold on to those weapons with the condition that they should renew their licenses on time and that they cannot anymore sell the rifle to another person.

After a thorough discussion and deliberation, the TWG chaired by PNP-FEO director, Brigadier Gen. Lyndon A. Mencio recommended that rifles should not be limited to sports shootings only and that the registration of rifles to licensed citizens should be allowed consistent with the provision of Section 10 and definition of rifle under Section 3, (dd) (2) of RA 10591.

Moreover, pursuant to Section 44, Article VI of RA 10591, the Chief of the PNP, after public hearing and consultations with concerned sectors of the society exercised his mandated rule-making power and issued the Implementing Rules and Regulations.