PNP orders Erwin Tulfo to surrender firearms

The Philippine National Police has ordered radio broadcaster Erwin Tulfo to surrender his firearms after his License To Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) expired in March.

"The Philippine National Police has ordered for the recall or temporary safekeeping of the firearms of Erwin Tulfo in as much as the License To Own and Possess Firearms of Mr. Erwin Tulfo has already expired," said PNP spokesman Police Colonel Bernard Banac at a press briefing.

"If the LTOPF is already expired, then there is no more reason for an individual to keep firearms even if these firearms are still valid, if the licenses are valid. They need to be surrendered for temporary safekeeping," he added.

Banac said only Tulfo's LTOPF is expired.

Banac said police cannot reveal yet the number of Tulfo's firearms.

He said the PNP already informed Tulfo about the matter. "A notice has been sent to his last known address, recalling his registered firearms."

Meanwhile, Banac said the LTOPF of the other Tulfo brothers are still valid. "Ang covered lamang ay si Erwin Tulfo, so far," he said.

The PNP was earlier directed by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año to strip Tulfo brothers of security escorts.

This came after Tulfo publicly berated retired general and incumbent Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista for supposedly not being easily reachable for an interview.

Tulfo has apologized for his outburst. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News