MORE Captured, Confiscated, Surrendered, Deposited, Abandoned and Forfeited (CCSDAF) firearms and ammunition in possession of Philippine National Police (PNP) units are being scheduled for ultimate destruction to prevent the possibility they may be pilfered, recycled and reused by outlaws and other criminals, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

The PNP headed by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. already has a memorandum circular outlining the guidelines and procedures in the proper recording and disposition of CCSDAF firearms and ammunition in possession of any PNP offices/units.

Records showed that after the end of the infamous Marawi City siege in 2017 which left over 1,100 people, mostly Islamic State-inspired terrorists dead and displaced more than 300,000 local residents, a total of 652 weapons were either captured, confiscated, surrendered or recovered from the Maute terrorists.

The Maute weapons which include machine guns, squad automatic weapons, rifle grenade launchers, sniper rifles, M-16 automatic rifles and 12-gauge shotguns were flattened and destroyed by a road roller vehicle and subsequently cut into pieces to render them unserviceable during ceremonies attended by then President Rodrigo Duterte.

The weapons were destroyed to render them ineffective for use as a component or a complete firearm.

In 2019, records from the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office showed there were more than 25,000 firearms awaiting final disposition excluding CCSDAF firearms and ammunition still in possession of various PNP offices/units nationwide.

Thus, the PNP leadership approved a series of guidelines and procedures in the proper disposition of these firearms and ammunition while ensuring their systematic and accurate recording, accounting and inventory.

Captured firearm and ammunition pertain to those recovered during and/or after a law enforcement or military operation/armed encounter.

Confiscated firearm and ammunition refer to those taken into custody by the PNP, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and all other law enforcement agencies by reason of their mandate and must be necessarily reported or turned over to the PNP-FEO.

Surrendered firearms and ammunition refer to those voluntarily turned in by their owner or any person without any intention of recovering or even applying for license.

Deposited firearms and ammunition pertain to those turned in by the owner/person for safekeeping and/or for future licensing.

Abandoned firearms and ammunition refer to those deposited in the custody of the PNP-FEO pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013, deemed to have been abandoned by the owner or his/her authorized representative if he/she failed to reclaim the same within five years or failed to advise the PNP-FEO of the disposition to be made thereof.

Thereafter, the PNP-FEO may dispose of the same after compliance with established procedures.

Forfeited firearm and ammunition refer to those which are already subject to forfeiture by reason of court order as accessory penalty or for the disposition by the PNP-FEO of firearms considered as abandoned, surrendered, confiscated or revoked in compliance with existing rules and regulations.

Under a demilitarization process, these weapons are rendered incapable of performing their main purpose of firing a projectile or inoperable for use

Late last month, Gen. Azurin led the ceremonial destruction of 6,526 guns under the safekeeping of the police force to prevent the possibility they could be recycled and used in the commission of crimes in the streets.

The top cop was joined by PNP Director for Logistics, Major Gen. Ronaldo E. Olay and former PNP Civil Service Group director, Maj. Gen. Michael John F. Dubria in destroying some of the discarded weapons during ceremonies at Camp Crame.

The discarded firearms are among the defective weapons in the PNP arsenal that had been declared beyond economical repair (BER) as well as others which have been tagged as ‘captured, confiscated, surrendered, deposited, abandoned and forfeited (CCSDAF) firearms kept by PNP units led by the PNP-FEO headed by Colonel Paul Kenneth T. Lucas.

“This demilitarization process renders these firearms and its parts unusable by reducing it to scrap metal, thus preventing it from being recycled into functional firearms. This is part of the PNP gun control measures to keep these firearms off the hands of criminal elements and unauthorized individuals,” said Gen. Azurin.

Maj. Gen. Olay said that in logistics management, they religiously follow the five logistical cycle which is Planning, Procurement, Storage, Distribution, Maintenance and Disposal.

“As our equipment especially firearms reached the end of their life span and turned Beyond Economical Repair, it it due to disposal. Why? This PNP property is already unserviceable and it may pose hazard not only to the PNP but also to the public if not destroyed,” said the PNP logistics chief.

He explained that one of the allowed methods of disposal of BER firearms is ‘demilitarization’ or the destruction of firearms, explosives and ammunition which render all their parts ineffective for future use.

Maj. Gen. Olay said the more than 6,000 guns were destroyed thru cutting of their steel piece with the use of circular saw.

Another 12,000 short and long firearms considered as CCSDAF firearms were also destroyed during the term of former PNP chief, now retired Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar a they pose a hazard to the public if not destroyed.

Gen. Azurin commended the PNP National Headquarters Disposal Committee which supervised the event in coordination with the PNP-CSG and the PNP-FEO.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon