PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil on Friday ordered the administrative relief of the director of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Off (PNP-FEO) ice in the wake of issues raised regarding the actual number of guns owned by fugitive Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.

The relief of Colonel Christopher T. Acop was triggered by ‘inaccurate reports’ on the number of Quiboloy’s firearms which were ordered surrendered to the PNP following Gen. Marbil’s revocation of the pastor’s License to Own and Possess Firearm and Firearm Registration including the reported charging of unnecessary fees by some of their IT personnel prior to the clicking of IT concerns.

An officer-in-charge of the PNP-FEO will be named vice Acop who made a number of reforms in the FEO before the ‘inaccurate report on Quiboloy’s guns’ was discovered.

Under Col. Acop, the PNP-FEO moved to fast-track the processing of LTOFPs and Firearms Registration and address irregularities

Reports earlier forwarded to the Office of the Chief,PNP by Acop’s subordinates showed that there were 19 firearms registered under the name of Quiboloy last week although it turned out that 14 of them have already been sold to other persons before Gen. Marbil ordered the revocation of the pastor’s LTOFP and FR.

A representative of Quiboloy identified as Marlon Acobo surrendered the five remaining guns to the Davao police authorities last May 2 and presented documents which showed that the remaining 14 firearms were already sold, said PNP spokesperson, Colonel Jean S. Fajardo.

The PNP spokesperson said that six of the 14 firearms, all pistols, were sold to a certain “Cresente Canada.” She said that investigators are still determining if ‘Cresente Canada’ is the same Cresente Canada who is among Quiboloy’s co-accused in a child abuse case.

The woman had already surrendered to the police and posted bail.

Col. Fajardo said the real identities of the two other ‘Canadas’ who bought the eight other firearms from Quiboloy are still being verified by the police. She said one of them-a male-bought five guns from the pastor while the 2nd, a woman bought three firearms.

As of press time, PNP investigators are still checking if any of the ‘Canadas’ who bought Quiboloy’s guns is one of his co-accused. A check is needed since the person’s name did not have a middle initial.

Over 7,500 gun permits issued to authorized individuals in the country have been revoked by the Philippine National Police from 2023 to date following violations of the law committed by the licensees, the Journal Group learned on Tuesday.

According to PNP spokesperson, Colonel Jean S. Fajardo, a total of 1,592 Firearm Registration issued by the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office have been revoked from January 1 to date. The gun license may be renewed within six months prior to its expiry date.

The PNP-FEO headed by Colonel Christopher T. Acop since the year started has also revoked 17 License to Own and Posses Firearms or LTOFP including those issued to fugitive Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and one of his co-accused in a child abuse case.

Last year, the PNP-FEO revoked a total of 6,107 Firearm Registration, over 4,000 of them found to have been unrenewed for so many years which is a ground for automatic revocation.

` The records will prove that the PNP has not singled out Quiboloy in its move to revoke the gun permits issued to qualified Filipinos found to have committed violations of the law.

In 2022 alone, the PNP-FEO revoked 41 LTOFPs for various violations and seized the 201 firearms registered under the names of the 41 gun-holders.

The grounds for revocation include involvement of the owners in violations like illegal drugs, illegal gambling, commission or pendency of a crime involving firearms and ammunition, prolonged non-renewal of a firearms license, illegal or unlawful transfer of firearms, violation of the election gun ban, revoked by order of the court and misrepresentation or submission of spurious supporting documents.

An LTOPF may also be taken back because of conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude or any offense where the penalty carries an imprisonment of more than six years; loss of the firearm, ammunition, or any parts thereof through negligence; carrying of the firearm, ammunition, or major parts thereof outside of residence or workplace without the proper permit or in prohibited places; dismissal for cause from the service in case of government official and employee; and non-compliance with reportorial requirements.