PNP to hasten gun license processing for state prosecutors

The Philippine National Police will expedite the processing of the License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) for prosecutors of the Department of Justice, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Monday.

Albayalde said a caravan will be rolled out at the DOJ headquarters in Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila.

It was not specified when will the caravan be held.

“I have coordinated with them, we'll be scheduling a caravan doon sa DOJ para lahat ng gustong magapply ng LTOPF, makapagapply don sa DOJ kasi ang reason nila, they have no time for them to come here to Camp Crame,” Albayalde said.

“So tayo naman in any other places kahit sa ibang, kahit sa Batasan, nagcacaravan tayo, then we will extend the same privilege sa kanila,” he added.

This came in after the kiling of Ombudsman Assistant Special Prosecutor Madonna Joy Ednaco-Tanyag who was stabbed to death on Visayas Avenue in Quezon City.

Albayalde admitted that this would not be a foolproof measure but said that this will add confidence and “feeling of security” to the prosecutors.

He added that owning a firearm would also be their “chance to defend themselves.”

“As I have said, hindi ‘yan foolproof, yung sa kanila siguro, added confidence on their part if they possess firearm...and probably magkaron sila ng chance to defend themselves also,” Albayalde said.

”Kasi hindi naman sila nagrerequest ng ano eh, wala naman silang security detail so they can protect themselves kung meron silang ano (firearm)... that would be an added feeling of security on their part, kapag meron silang firearms, legally licensed,” he added. —NB, GMA News