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DILG PNP Asking Congress to Slap Stricter Penalty Against Illegal Gun Possession
July 30, 2009
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are asking Congress to pass a law making illegal gun possession a non-bailable offense as part of the government’s fresh efforts to reduce, if not totally eliminate, an estimated 1.1 million loose firearms in the country.
At the same time, Puno reiterated his warning to owners of unlicensed firearms that after the one-month gun amnesty period expires on Oct. 31, all guns not properly registered would be confiscated immediately and criminal charges would be filed against the owners in court.
Puno said the PNP will begin processing the applications of late registrants, or those with unrenewed licenses in implementing President Arroyo’s National Gun Control Program, as spelled out under Executive Order No. 817.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are asking Congress to pass a law making illegal gun possession a non-bailable offense as part of the government’s fresh efforts to reduce, if not totally eliminate, an estimated 1.1 million loose firearms in the country.
At the same time, Puno reiterated his warning to owners of unlicensed firearms that after the one-month gun amnesty period expires on Oct. 31, all guns not properly registered would be confiscated immediately and criminal charges would be filed against the owners in court.
Puno said the PNP will begin processing the applications of late registrants, or those with unrenewed licenses in implementing President Arroyo’s National Gun Control Program, as spelled out under Executive Order No. 817.
“We have compiled a list--complete with the addresses of these late registrants--and we will give them this gun amnesty period to update the registration of their firearms,” Puno said.
“At the same time, we are requesting Congress to impose a stricter penalty for illegal possession of firearms,” Puno, who chairs the National Police Commission, said. “We are asking that the charge on illegal possession of firearms be made non-bailable.”
Under Republic No. 8294, which amended President Decree 1866, the penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period (6 years) and a fine of not less than P15,000 is imposed on any person found guilty of the unlawful possession, manufacture, sale, acquisition, or disposition of firearms or ammunition which makes the crime a bailable offense.
Puno said that to make it convenient for gun owners to register their unlicensed firearms, the PNP will set up registration stations in the different towns and cities nationwide.
Prior to the Oct. 1-31 amnesty period, Puno said the PNP will already start receiving applications starting Aug. 1 to accommodate those who would like to comply early with the law.
EO 817, which provides for a general amnesty for the registration of loose firearms, tasks the PNP to conduct active police operations against unregistered firearms through random weapons checks in crime-prone areas; mobile checkpoint and chokepoint operations; intelligence build-up; internal security operations; application of search warrants; and dismantling of private armed groups.
The government expects to reduce by at least 3% per month the estimated 1.1 million loose firearms currently in the hands of threat groups, criminal elements and unauthorized individuals. Such number of loose firearms also include guns with expired licenses.
The PNP is targeting to account for some 33,000 loose firearms within the first month of implementation of EO 817.
“At the same time, we are requesting Congress to impose a stricter penalty for illegal possession of firearms,” Puno, who chairs the National Police Commission, said. “We are asking that the charge on illegal possession of firearms be made non-bailable.”
Under Republic No. 8294, which amended President Decree 1866, the penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period (6 years) and a fine of not less than P15,000 is imposed on any person found guilty of the unlawful possession, manufacture, sale, acquisition, or disposition of firearms or ammunition which makes the crime a bailable offense.
Puno said that to make it convenient for gun owners to register their unlicensed firearms, the PNP will set up registration stations in the different towns and cities nationwide.
Prior to the Oct. 1-31 amnesty period, Puno said the PNP will already start receiving applications starting Aug. 1 to accommodate those who would like to comply early with the law.
EO 817, which provides for a general amnesty for the registration of loose firearms, tasks the PNP to conduct active police operations against unregistered firearms through random weapons checks in crime-prone areas; mobile checkpoint and chokepoint operations; intelligence build-up; internal security operations; application of search warrants; and dismantling of private armed groups.
The government expects to reduce by at least 3% per month the estimated 1.1 million loose firearms currently in the hands of threat groups, criminal elements and unauthorized individuals. Such number of loose firearms also include guns with expired licenses.
The PNP is targeting to account for some 33,000 loose firearms within the first month of implementation of EO 817.
Puno along with PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa and heads of other law enforcement agencies signed last July 23 the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of EO 817,
In various Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meetings and dialogues with local executives, Puno has called on elective officials to help the DILG and PNP carry out an information campaign on the gun amnesty program.
In various Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meetings and dialogues with local executives, Puno has called on elective officials to help the DILG and PNP carry out an information campaign on the gun amnesty program.
The DILG chief also assured gun owners that the PNP will accept the registrations of their unlicensed firearms and those with expired licenses during the amnesty period with “no questions asked.”
The PNP, Puno said, is implementing the gun amnesty program months ahead of the campaign period for the 2010 elections so that such an effort will not be misconstrued in any way as a political move on the part of the government.
The PNP, Puno said, is implementing the gun amnesty program months ahead of the campaign period for the 2010 elections so that such an effort will not be misconstrued in any way as a political move on the part of the government.
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