POLICEMEN will be visiting the houses of thousands of gun holders for “verification and accounting” of firearms they registered with the police force, the PNP said yesterday.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the move is being done in line with next year’s national and local elections.
Fajardo said the PNP’s priority are gun owners under Type 5 classification, or those who are allowed to own more than 15 firearms.
She said the visitation will be conducted by personnel of the Regional Civil Security Units of the PNP Civil Security Group (CSG).
The CSG, in an advisory, said, “This verification and accounting initiative is being conducted in preparation for the forthcoming national and local elections 2025 as well as the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) parliamentary election to promote public order and safety for the general public and electorate.”
CSG director Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco said his men will visit the gun owners at the addresses they declared in their firearms registration form, “then conduct physical inspection.”
“We have regional CSUs that will do the inspection,” he said.
Fajardo said gun owners found not residing in their given address may face sanctions for violation of regulations.
She also said the CSG has started sending letters to the gun owners as early as last Monday.
“We will prioritize some 2,000 Type 5 gun owners …This is an initiative of the CSG in support of our security plans and preparations for the elections,” she said.
She said the presence of loose firearms is among “election risk factors” that influence the conduct of elections, “although the subject here are license owners.”
“The holders of Type 5 licenses will be prioritized,” she added.
After the inspection of the firearms of the Type 5 gun owners, the guns of Type 4 (maximum of 15 firearms), 3 (maximum of 10 firearms), 2 (maximum of five firearms) and 1 (maximum of two firearms) gun owners will follow.
