Pres. Arroyo extends gun amnesty to November 30

Pres. Arroyo extends gun amnesty to November 30

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Cagayan de Oro City (13 November) — Due to public demand, the Final General Firearms Amnesty (FGFA) implemented by the Philippine National Police (PNP) last month has been extended for another 30 days, from Nov. 1-30, 2009.

Such extension is specified in Executive Order 817-A signed by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, recently, upon recommendation of the National Firearms Control Program Executive Committee (NFCP Execom).

P/Chief Supt. Danilo Empedrad, Regional Director of PNP, region 10, said the NFCP Execom stressed the need to give additional time for holders of loose firearms to register their firearms under the amnesty program, hence, the recommendation to extend it for another month.

Implemented pursuant to EO 187 from Oct. 1-30, 2009, the FGFA allows all individuals and juridical entities, such as, the security guard agencies and local government units (LGU) to renew their expired firearm licenses and/or register their unregistered firearms with the PNP.

The drive for the registration of loose firearms is providing substantial results, especially among the prospective registrants in remote areas and provinces who have expressed the need for more time to register their firearms.

Pursuant to EO 187-A, the extension will synchronize with the expected passage into law of House Bill 6776 or the proposed amendment of the Firearms Law which seek to impose stiffer penalties against persons and entities possessing illegal firearms and ammunition.

Meanwhile, Empedrad said some 8,083 firearms were accounted for in the region as a result of implementing EO 817.

About 7,681 of these firearms fell under the “Bilang Boga” category that included the newly registered, renewed and juridical firearms, while 402 firearms fell under the “Kontra Boga” category that were confiscated from threat groups and criminal elements. (PIA 10)

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