INSTEAD of questioning ongoing efforts of the Philippine National Police Civil Security Group (PNP-CSG) to account for all registered firearms in the country, retired generals and some lawmakers have been asked to serve as ‘role models’ in complying with the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013.

The PNP-CSG headed by Major General Leo M. Francisco started checking the firearms of holders of Type 5 License.

The PNP-CSG move, however, has been met with criticisms although officials said there is a ‘very big possibility’ that many Type 5 License holders in the country could not present all the registered weapons under their possession for various reasons.

They include the possibility that some of these weapons have been inadvertently lost, were stolen or were already given by their registered owners to other persons without making the proper transfer of ownership at the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office.

The Journal Group learned that there are a total of 2,213 firearm holders in the country with Type 5 Licenses, 841 of them living in the National Capital Region. The 2,213 Type 5 License holders overall have in their possession a total of 4,163 assorted firearms.

The others are: 115 in Region 1; 52 in Region 2; 194 in Region 3; 259 in Region 4-A; 24 in Region 4-B; 31 in Region 5; 100 in Region 6; 109 in Region 7; 22 in Region 8; 47 in Region 9; 82 in Region 10; 169 in Region 11; 71 in Region 12; 26 in Region 13; 35 in Bangsamoro Administrative Region; and 36 in Cordillera Administrative Region.

As of November 7, only 248 of the Type 5 License holders have been inspected by concerned Regional Civil Security Units with only 9 inspected out of the 841 Type 5 License holders in Metro Manila.

The accounting of some of the Type 5 License holders showed the following: A total of 31 licenses have already been revoked; 2,990 are valid licenses; 282 are expired licenses; 65 of the firearms in the licensees’ possession have been tagged as ‘wanted/lost’ while 547 are ‘unaccounted.’

Reports said that five members of the Duterte family alone have a total of 654 registered guns. Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte has 363 assorted firearms while Vice President Sara Duterte has 28.

Police are yet to inspect all the guns registered under the names of the former president and his daughter.

Latest reports said that Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and VP Duterte’s husband, Attorney Manases Carpio have all presented their registered guns to the RCSU.

The three have a total of 263 registered firearms with Paolo having 172; Sebastian with 61; and Carpio with 30.

It is widely known that Type 5 License holders are Filipinos who really can afford to have 15 or more licensed guns which they should renew on time.

Thus, there have been mounting calls on these license holders to act as ‘real role models’ by complying with the gun reportorial requirements of the PNP-CSG and seeing to it that they will be able to present-in good faith-all their registered guns.

One fact that has been discovered by the PNP-CSG to date is that some of these Type 5 License holders have been living in places not mentioned in their licenses.

If one Type 5 License holder has a total of 20 registered guns with a single address listed in his application, the question now is how he was able to move many of his firearms in another address if he has no Permit-to-Carry-Firearm-Outside-of-Residence or a Permit-to-Transport those guns.

Earlier, the Journal Group reported that all licensed gun-holders in the country need to fully comply with strict requirements of the Revised IRR of RA 10591 or face legal suits.

Under the law, PNP chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil may issue appropriate licenses to a qualified individual subject to requirements under RA 10591.

A Type 5 license allows a citizen who is a certified gun collector, to own and possess more than fifteen (15) firearms.

In case of Type 5 category, the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office is mandated to issue guidelines on the issuance of authorization for the acquisition of additional firearms by a citizen.

The law also says that ‘for Types 1 to 5 licenses, a vault or container, secured by lock and key or other security measures appropriate under the premises imposed by the FEO, shall be required.

On the other hand, holders of Types 3 to 5 licenses must comply with the inspection requirements of the PNP before the issuance of license.

Failure on their part to comply with any of the requirements mentioned is a ground for the denial of license.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon