Buoyed by the headway on the renewal of expired gun licenses, the Police Regional Office (PRO) VI vowed a more intensified campaign against illegally-possessed firearms.

Aside from conduct of checkpoints, there would be search and seizure operations against individuals believed to be in custody of unlicensed guns, PRO6 director Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr. said.

In a two-month period, PRO6 recorded a renewal of 1,278 loose firearms.

Although the number is not enough to dramatically slash the estimated 33,068 expired gun licenses as of August, Cruz is optimistic that the number OF renewals would be increased before the year ends.

Earlier, he organized Task Force “Armas” to spearhead the accounting of loose firearms. The interim unit is led by Senior Supt. Wesley Barayuga, PRO6 deputy regional director for operations.

 “Positibo po ang nakikita nating statistics at patunay lamang ito na nakikipatulungan sa atin ang ating mamamayan,” he said.

Meanwhile, Supt. Ledon Monte, chief of PRO6 Firearms and Explosives Unit, said that more than 2,000 house-to-house visitations were already conducted to remind holders of guns with expired licenses to renew the same.

 The results of the visitations showed that 701 have signified their willingness to renew their expired gun licenses while 123 licensees were already dead.

Further, 600 have changed residences, 481 cannot be located on their registered addresses, 6 were under “custodial egis,” 6 have turned in their firearms, 78 declared that their firearms were lost; and 53 have sold their firearms but ownership was not transferred.

The task force also provides assistance to holders of guns with expired licenses.

REQUIREMENTS

In renewing an expired license, FEU said that there must be an affidavit of undertaking by the owner, a fille-out authenticated application from FEU or any registered gun store, latest 2x2 ID picture, and machine copy of the license.

 In case a firearm is sold, the transfer of ownership must be consummated through a legal process. Otherwise, the buyer may be charged for illegal possession of firearms.*