MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is calling on all holders of loose firearms to surrender these guns and avail themselves of the government’s amnesty program.
Yesterday, the PNP lauded 79-year-old Manuel Cruelda, a Navy retiree, who personally surrendered his caliber .22 caliber to PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa.
Although Cruelda could have renewed his gun’s license – which expired two years ago – and still be able to keep it, he decided to surrender it instead to the PNP.
“Although he is entitled to avail himself of amnesty for the renewal of expired firearms’ license as provided under Executive Order 817, he opted not to keep the gun anymore and instead decided to surrender it to the PNP to ensure that it would not fall into the wrong hands,” Verzosa said.
“I know that there are others out there like Mr. Cruelda who are in possession of loose firearms or who have been delinquent in updating their firearm license records. I urge all owners of loose firearms to emulate (his) example by surrendering their unregistered guns to the PNP,” he added.
The PNP campaign against loose and unregistered guns is also gaining ground in other parts of the country.
In the Caraga region, a certain Datu Simon approached a police patrol team of the 1402nd and 1403rd Provincial Mobile Group in Barangay La Purisima, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur last weekend and surrendered an M-16 Elisco rifle with four loaded magazines and three rifle grenades; a caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle with seven clips of live ammunition; and a caliber .30 carbine rifle with a defaced serial number.
The PNP estimates 1.1 million loose firearms, including those in the hands of criminal elements and threat groups.
A general amnesty is in effect for gun holders who wish to surrender loose firearms or renew expired licenses until the end of October.