MANILA – The incoming chief of the Philippine National Police wants the intensification of home visitations to increase the numbers of firearms for safekeeping and applicants for renewal of licenses as part of security preparations for the 2013 midterm elections.

In a press conference yesterday, Director Lina Sarmiento of the Directorate for Police Community Relations, said Deputy Director General Alan Purisima, who will assume command of the PNP from Director General Nicanor Bartolome, will require a truthful election security assessment from the police commanders.

Sarmiento said all local police chiefs will be ordered to physically check licensed gun holders in their jurisdictions and see to it that their personal data are updated for proper police accounting.

At the same time, she also said that the PNP has intensified operations in the 15 so-called election hot spots or high-risk areas, like Abra, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cagayan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Cavite, Masbate, Samar, Misamis Occidental, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan.

Sarmiento said that during the operations of the PNP last week in such areas, they recovered 36 assorted loose firearms and discovered 926 expired licenses being renewed, with 49 on the process of evaluation. In addition, 187 firearms were voluntarily surrendered and 2,939 home visitations conducted.

Meanwhile, the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office headed by Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta has noted a marked increase in the number of gun holders renewing their expired firearms’ licenses since the announcement last month of a Dec. 31, 2012 deadline for all to renew their gun licenses or face charges for illegal possession of firearms.

Petrasanta said this will be his last warning to delinquent licensed firearms’ holders who will face the prospect of a jail term and their guns forfeited in favor of the government for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1866, as amended by Republic Act No. 8294, or the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

He also said that after the yearend deadline, they will be providing all PNP operating units with the list of firearm holders with revoked licenses (those with expired licenses) for appropriate police action.

Guns with expired licenses are considered loose firearms and will be subjected to police operations with the end in view of confiscating such firearms and the filing of a criminal case for violation of PD 1866 as amended by RA 8294, Petrsanta said.

He said delinquent firearms’ holders are ordered to renew their licenses directly at the PNP-FEO in Camp Crame, or at any Firearms, Explosives, Security and Guards Section, or FESAGS Office, in various Police Regional Offices before Dec. 31, 2012 to avoid a criminal suit.*PNA

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