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PNP not zeroing in on Tulfo, says other gun owners also reminded to renew licenses


The Philippine National Police on Saturday said it is not zeroing in on broadcaster Erwin Tulfo with regard to its order for the latter to surrender his firearms, but added the reminder is also given to other gun owners.

"Hindi naman [pinag-iinitan si Erwin Tulfo]. In fact, ito'y ginagawa sa lahat ng responsible gun owners sa buong bansa. Lahat po ng mga owners natin na ang kanilang lisensiya ay paso na ay pinapadalhan ng sulat na nagpapaalala sa kanilang responsibility na magpa-renew ng lisensiya," Police Colonel Bernard Banac said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

 

 

On Friday, Banac said in a press briefing that the PNP has ordered Tulfo to surrender his firearms after his License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) expired in May.

Banac said if a gun owner is not able to renew his LTOPF on time, he or she can bring the firearm to the nearest police office for temporary safekeeping.

"Kapag hindi nila ito [renewal] magagawa ay puwede nilang ipa-temporary safekeeping ang kanilang mga baril sa pinakamalapit na pulisya para sa kustodiya," Banac said. This is a free service, he added; the gun owner need not pay a storage fee.

 

 

The PNP spokesperson also said the police will do Oplan Katok to personally remind gun owners that their LTOPF has expired. 

"Bibisitahin ang mga gun owners sa place of residence or business at muli paaalalahanin na kailangan na nilang mag-renew ng lisensiya," Banac said.

However, if a gun owner still does nothing after an Oplan Katok visit, the PNP will be forced to apply for a search warrant in court as the guns will then be considered loose firearms, he said.

Banac said it is not only Tulfo who has an expired LTOPF. Many gun owners have expired LTOPF.

"Marami na ang paso ang licenses gawa ng nature ng mga trabaho ng gun owners. Busy ang mga tao. 'Yung iba nasa abroad. Hindi nila agad magampanan ang renewal," he said.

Renewing an LTOPF, Banac said, requires the gun owner to undergo a mandatory drug test and neuro-psychiatric test, attend a gun safety seminar, and go to a firing range for training.

 

 

"Talagang medyo mahirap mag-renew... Six months before expiry, dapat simulan na ang pag-accomplish ng mga requirements para pagdating ng expiration date, renewed na ang lisensiya," he said.

Banac said Tulfo's camp has already said he will renew his LTOPF.

 

 

"Nakahanda naman ang Firearms and Explosive Office na umalalay sa renewal ng kanyang LTOPF," Banac said.

He added that they cannot divulge the number of firearms Tulfo has. "Nasa imbentaryo pa po," Banac said.

The PNP spokesperson said Tulfo's LTOPF expired in May before he made his rant against retired general and incumbent Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista for supposedly not being easily reachable for an interview.

However, Banac admitted that the PNP checked Tulfo's LTOPF only after the said issue surfaced. They were not able to check on LTOPFs that have expired recently since they focused on the May elections.

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

Erwin Tulfo has already apologized for his outburst but Bautista set conditions before fully accepting his apology.

Banac gave the assurance though that Tulfo's privilege to own and possess firearms will continue as long as his LTOPF is renewed.

"Wala pong problema. As long as licenses are valid, patuloy silang mabibigyan ng privilege to own firearms," Banac said. —KG, GMA News

Tags: pnp, erwintulfo, philippinenationalpolice, bernardbanac
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