As senators criticize move: Cebu gun owners oppose new policy

CEBU, Philippines - Objections mount against the Philippine National Police’s centralized gun regulation policy, with licensed Cebu gun holders adding their voice in questioning the newly-imposed guideline.

Senators Vicente Sotto III and Grace Poe have also criticized the move as discouraging owners to have their firearms registered, with one of them even suggesting that it be investigated.

Aberdovey Belleza, Talisay Aqua City Gun Club president, told The FREEMAN that the new system is a hassle to gun owners, as they now have to go all the way to Manila to get a license.

He asked why the PNP seems to be taking a step backward when other government agencies decentralized their registration processes.

“Pwerteng hasola.  Kung nahimo sa ubang government agencies nganong dili man mahimo sa (Such a bother.  If other government agencies could do it, why not also the) PNP?” he said.

In a March 3 memorandum, the PNP ordered the closure of all PNP-Civil Security Group (CSG) satellite office all over the country and instructed all displaced personnel to report to the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

As a result, all gun owners in the country who want to have their firearms registered or their licenses renewed would now have to travel to Manila to do so.

Belleza said it is much easier for licensed gun owners to register their guns at PNP regional offices it is less costly and less time consuming.

With the new policy, the process is actually made difficult.

While he understands the intent of PNP Chief Alan Purisima, which is to better monitor loose firearms in the country, the new policy may even achieve the opposite.

He said that with the difficulty of obtaining a license, gun owners might not renew their licenses anymore because of additional burden imposed on them.

“Daghan na unyang (There would be more) loose firearms, medyo ma-lessen ang legal gunholder,” he said.

Cebu-based licensed gun owner Nimrod Quiñones also said that the new regulation is unfair to those who live outside Manila.

He said that gun owners who come from the different provinces of the country cannot easily go or do not even want to go to Manila.

Quiñones said that the firearms guidelines implemented prior to the new rule were “already okay.”

That was why Belleza lamented that every time a new PNP chief or a new FEO chief they would implement new rules, adding to the confusion.

“Every chief PNP lahi sad og paagi (has a different approach); dili (the PNP is not) consistent,” Belleza said.

In a press statement, some senators believed that centralizing firearm registration could instead worsen the corruption in the police leadership since the gun courier system is now “centrally managed.”

Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) is aimed to speed up the process of acquiring gun license. With it, the gun owner need not go to the main office to get his license but would receive it via courier.

The senators said the new regulation also does not guarantee control and prevent the proliferation of loose firearms in the country.

Poe said she is convinced that the new policy would make it even more difficult to encourage gun enthusiasts to register their guns.

Poe, Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs head, said PNP officials assured they are open for further discussion with stakeholders on the issue.

Sotto also said the situation the new regulation would only increase the number of loose guns in the country.

“How can the PNP monitor loose firearms when individuals owning such firearms don’t have any intention to register them?” Sotto said.

Sotto said the decision to centralize gun registration and renewal should be investigated.

“Kailangan tingnan sa batas kung allowed yang centralization nayan. Kung wala, pwedeng kuwestiyonin ng Kongreso yan,” he said.

He explained that the memorandum to centralize gun registration might not be in accordance with existing laws covering firearm ownership.

He further said that PNP bidding on the courier service to deliver the firearms license cards of gun owners could face congressional investigation because the winner is merely using the service of another courier firm (LBC) to deliver the cards.

Lawyer Rod Moreno, Gun Owners Against Congressional Tyranny vice president, claimed that the P190 courier fee for Metro Manila and the P290 for the provinces are exorbitant. — /RHM