No extension of firearms amnesty beyond Nov. 14 — PNP

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) will scrap its firearms amnesty program as it has been proven ineffective in the campaign against loose firearms. "This is probably the last time that the PNP is [implementing the granting of amnesty as a stopgap measure to control the proliferation of loose firearms," said PNP chief Director-General Jesus A. Versoza in a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City Thursday. The current 12-month amnesty allows those possessing unlicensed firearms to register them until Nov. 14. Mr. Versoza said the current program is the fourth since the government implemented the scheme in 1986, but only 11,700 individuals and juridical entities have turned over unregistered guns for licensing. "Aside from the possibility that a gun amnesty may actually induce smuggling of firearms into the country, our experience over the past 22 years that we have been waging a campaign against loose firearms tells us that granting amnesty provides only a band-aid solution to the problem," he said. The police chief said their records indicate there are still 115,600 unregistered guns nationwide, including 35,000 in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; 20,700 in Metro Manila; 9,100 in Western Mindanao; 7,100 in Eastern Visayas; 6,500 in Northern Mindanao; and 6,300 in Western Visayas. Mr. Versoza noted that based on PNP records, almost all guns used in crimes were unlicensed. He added records show "a ratio of only one licensed gun for every 1,000 guns involved in crime. "I have already directed our regional directors as well as directors of national support units to draw up their respective campaign plans for the crackdown of the remaining loose firearms when the amnesty program expires," Mr. Versoza said. In a separate statement, Chief Superintendent Ireno Bacolod, director of the Civil Security Group, said there are 1.1 million licensed guns in the hands of authorized individuals and entities, but records indicate almost half of the list has expired. - BusinessWorld