PNP to hold gun control summit

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to hold a national gun summit on May 18 to 19 as part of efforts to control the proliferation of loose firearms during the runup to the presidential elections in 2010.

Chief Superintendent Ireneo Bacolod, director of the Civil Security Group (CSG), said the date of the national gun summit could still be moved, depending on the availability of President Arroyo. About 500 people are expected to attend the planned summit.

“The PNP under Director General Jesus Verzosa would want (Mrs.) Arroyo to be there. This is the first time that the PNP is pushing for a gun summit,” Bacolod said.

Bacolod also said that the gun summit was designed to consolidate existing laws on firearms.

“We hope to come up with a Comprehensive Firearms Code of the Philippines,” said Bacolod, who noted that all stakeholders from government and private agencies will be invited to attend the summit.

The agencies include Bureau of Customs, Department of Justice, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and National Bureau of Investigation.

Under the plan, Bacolod said Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno will be the guest of honor and speaker while Mrs. Arroyo will be on the closing ceremony in which different heads of agencies will be expected to attend.

Bacolod noted that during the closing ceremony, the PNP and other agencies that will participate in the summit will be able to present initial programs to the President.

“There will be technical working groups to discuss all the concerns on firearms,” said Bacolod, who said the working groups will also tackle the issues on criminal groups with loose firearms.

The PNP chief earlier proposed “one last” amnesty for loose firearms, implementation of a total gun ban, and stiffer penalties for illegal possession of firearms to minimize, if not totally prevent, election-related violent incidents (ERVIs) during the presidential elections in 2010.

Bacolod said the summit will provide a great avenue for PNP personnel nationwide to be updated on recent developments regarding the provisions on gun control.

According to Bacolod, there are about 400,000 firearms with expired licenses. He noted that there are an estimated 96,000 loose firearms, which have never been registered with the PNP.