Aklan PPO to gun holders: Avail the gun licensing amnesty program

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) is reminding gun holders in Aklan to avail the amnesty program under the new gun control law.

A gun amnesty caravan will be launched next month in Iloilo City for firearm holders with unrenewed or expired licenses and unregistered firearms.

Acting Aklan police provincial director Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion said the gun licensing amnesty program will regulate the ownership of firearms by requiring all firearm holders to register their unlicensed guns. 

Nacion said the Firearms and Explosive Office (FEO) from Camp Crame will process the applications on August 11 to 15 at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City. 

But before the firearm applicants could avail the firearms amnesty, they have to submit documents such as drug test, court, neuro-psychiatric and police clearances, valid identification cards, proof of billing, birth certificate, gun safety and responsible gun ownership seminar certificate.

 

Under the gun control law, gun holders for small arms (pistols and revolvers) found guilty of illegal possession of firearms are meted penalties of eight to ten years of imprisonment.

Those firearms owners with class A light weapons such as automatic pistols, rifles, sub-machine guns and assault rifles will be meted with 10 to 12 years of imprisonment if arrested for illegal possession.

The applicants should submit also their application for License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) for initial processing to the FEO or Firearms and Explosives Security Guards Section (FESAGS) at Aklan Police Provincial Office. 

“Without LTOPF, they could not avail the PNP’s gun amnesty program or to possess licensed firearms,” the provincial director said.  

The gun amnesty program is in compliance of the Comprehensive Law on Gun Control or Republic Act No. 10591. 

Nacion said the APPO will continue its campaign ‘Oplan Katok’ provincewide against loose firearms and guns with expired licenses. 

“Sa series of operations, we have recovered loose firearms proliferating in Aklan last week,” he said.

Seventeen persons were apprehended and 13 firearms recovered in the first six months of the year, APPO data showed.