SOME 18,900 firearms owned by policemen and soldiers have expired licenses and are technically considered loose firearms, a police official said.
In a press briefing last Monday, PNP Director for Operations Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco urged police and military commanders to instruct their men to renew their licenses and become role models to civilian firearm holders.
Citing information as of May 26, Francisco said 9,700 of these firearms are personally owned by PNP personnel while the other 9,200 belong to military personnel.
“So having that number in the AFP and PNP alone, I think we have to start telling our commanders to check on their personnel to renew their firearms (licenses),” added Francisco.
Francisco said soldiers should renew their expired firearms licenses “so they will become role model(s), so that civilian firearm holders will be encouraged to also renew their firearms.”
Yesterday, Francisco said there are about 539,000 firearms, including those owned by 18,900 policemen and soldiers, with unrenewed licenses.
“The number of unrenewed firearms is 539,000. Out of this, 9,700 are owned by policemen and 9,200 are owned by military (personnel),” said Francisco.
At present, Francisco said there are 1.15 million assorted firearms with valid licenses. He could not immediately say how many of these are owned by policemen and soldiers.
Licenses of firearms have to be renewed with the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office every two years.
“If unrenewed, they are considered loose firearms,” said Francisco.
