Proliferation of fake firearms, licenses in Cordillera probed

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet– The Philippine National Police is now investigating proliferation of fake firearms, licenses and permits to carry firearms outside of residence.

Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Isagani Nerez bared this saying regional police “is looking into the extent of this illicit operation to stamp out this illegal activity and the people behind it." 

He urged firearm holders or owners in the region to renew their licenses in Camp Dangwa or through firearms/explosives security agencies or Civil Security Group satellite office.

Renewal of application will be accepted by FESAGs which will be forwarded to Camp Crame for issuance of license cards.

The regional police chief said applicants should transact business only with FEO and/or PTCFOR personnel, and refrain from using fixers, or unscrupulous persons manufacturing fake firearms, licenses and bogus permits. 
Gun holders will have to personally submit required documents, he said while new applicants will undergo neuro-psychiatric examination, Nerez added.

Gun owners will undergo drug testing administered by regional police to qualify for renewal.
The Final Gun Amnesty of 2014 will coincide with formal launch this month of the Comprehensive Law on Gun Control next month or the Republic Act 10591.

Nerez urged firearm holders without licenses or with expired licenses to avail of the FGA Program of the PNP, and to submit application for License To Own and Process Firearm  or LTOPF Licensed citizens, judicial entities, and applicants whose application for LTOPF are being processed at the Firearms and Explosives Office or FEO are eligible to apply for firearms amnesty.

Only those with approved LTOPF are mandated to submit the mandatory requirement in the firearms amnesty registration.

He said FESAGs or FEO offices are not gun stores nor allowed to sell firearms or ammunition.

Processing fees for FAs licenses and PTCFOR are as follows: government officials and employees who will renew firearm licenses will need to pay P1,800 per short firearm, while private individuals will pay P2, 000.

The PTCFOR costs P4,150 excluding fee for drug test, neuro-psychiatry test, clearances from the court and PNP Directorate for Intelligence.

Any application for firearms amnesty shall only be submitted to any of the following offices: FEO, FESAGS of the PROs, PPOs and CPOs wherever is most accessible or convenient to the applicant. 

“Applications with incomplete mandatory requirements shall not be received by any of these offices and those who may want to renew their firearms can visit the nearest provincial police office or our regional office” Nerez added.

For any question or inquiries, those concerned were urged to  contact FESAGS chief – Supt. Richard Albonat cell phone  09082140345 or social media accounts Twitter-@PNPCordillera or Facebook Page- PioProcor.