FEO chief’s driver sacked for fixing gun licenses

MANILA, Philippines - Fixers really do exist inside the headquarters of the Philippine National Police-Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO).

This was virtually confirmed yesterday by FEO director Chief Superintendent Louie Oppus after he admitted sacking his civilian driver and recommended him charged for allegedly involvement in fixing of gun licenses.

Oppus refused to name his former driver pending further investigation.

“To be straight and honest with you, even my personal driver was slapped with charges,” he said.

Oppus and his immediate superior, Chief Superintendent Melito Mabilin, held a press briefing to discuss the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court on the new gun control law.

Mabilin said the PNP will file an answer to the TRO issued by the high court. The TRO covered the centralization of the application and renewal of firearm licenses, the signing of waiver by an applicant, allowing policemen to visit or enter the home of gun owners and the delivery of gun licenses through courier service.

Mabilin, however, refused to elaborate.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said a copy of the court order was received yesterday.

He said the PNP, through its legal service branch, would study the effects of the TRO.

Mabilin added they are now working on the reopening of the satellite offices of the FEO to accommodate applicants for gun license in compliance with the court order.

“So we will just consolidate and reorganize our men and afterwards we will send them to the satellite offices. We have satellite offices in Mindanao, the Visayas and some parts of Luzon. We will abide by the orders of the court,” Mabilin said.

Previously, personnel from the satellite offices were assigned at the PNP regional office.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, however, ordered the satellite offices closed after learning its personnel were facilitating processing of gun licenses for a fee.

Under Oplan Katok, Mabilin said field units visited 524,000 gun holders since December 2012 and 129,210 of them turned out to be fictitious.

Oplan Katok is a campaign of the PNP to account for loose firearms, which were previously registered but delinquent owners failed to update the registration.

“In fact, during the implementation of Oplan Katok by field units, we discovered at least 129,210 fictitious or questionable licenses. Of these licenses, 98,118 or 75.9 percent were registered in provincial offices,” Mabilin said.

“If 129,210 firearms were irregularly or fictitiously registered, this is a cause for alarm for the PNP leadership… If accounted and in the hands of criminals, the PNP must and should take immediate preventive action as protector of the people,” he said.

Mabilin said they are planning to assign a new batch of police officers that will man the satellite offices.

“Since they returned here we conducted regular and continuing information education to these personnel to emphasize proper handling of the satellite offices without involving themselves,” he added.

Mabilin said each satellite office needs at least five to seven people.

Mabilin said the payment of gun license fees should be made at the Land Bank of the Philippines, not with any police personnel to minimize corruption.

“As per my pronouncement, we will run after the fixers. So far we have launched this effort but we have yet to catch anyone because we believe we have already put in order especially the processing, from permit to operate and possess firearms as well as in registration of firearms,” Mabilin said.

Mabilin and other high ranking police officers led by Deputy Director General Felipe Roxas spearheaded the public consultation on the fee and other charges for licensing and firearms registration. Representatives from various sectors attended the forum.

Mabilin said the public hearing was not in violation of the TRO, saying that they wanted to get the input of stakeholders on the new gun control law.