PNP seizes 526 loose firearms in street inspections in January

About 526 firearms confiscated by the Civil Security Group - Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agencies (CSG-SOSIA) through street inspections were turned over on Wednesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

In a statement, the PNP noted that the post-to-post inspections were conducted from January 1 to 20, 2021.

The PNP said that the firearms of various calibers were confiscated for “justifiable grounds” like failure to present documents such as valid permit or License To Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF).

They could also be from security personnel who presented an expired Duty Detail Order (DDO) or the lack of it.

Police Brigadier General Alden Delvo said that other documents being inspected for the firearms were security guards’ License to Exercise Security Profession (LESP) and agency' s License To Operate (LTO).

"Any lacking or expired document shall be a basis for confiscation,” Delvo said.

Some firearms were also tampered with defaced and/or with duplicated serial numbers.

PNP Chief Police General Dionardo Carlos said that confiscation of the said firearms came with a penalty of P50,000 fine for the first offense and cancellation or revocation of License to Operate for the Private Security Service Providers for the second offense.

“The law which governs the security industry, RA 5487, as amended, and its 2003 Revised IRR directs that the penalty to firearms violations are graded as ‘grave offenses,’” he stressed.

As the election period started on January 9, all kinds of firearms with a license and permit to carry since then have not been allowed to be brought outside of the owner’s residence following the imposition of the Commission on Elections gun ban.

Carlos lauded the deputized personnel for the seizing of the said number of firearms amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kudos to the CSG and SOSIA hierarchies for these achievements which are in tune to my directives for all PNP personnel to do what is expected of them and that is to do what is right,” he said.

The PNP further directed all private security stakeholders to follow the rules and regulations of the security industry and update themselves with the latest SOSIA memorandum advisories to avoid violating the provisions. — Giselle Ombay/BM, GMA News