Firearms amnesty extension to end Nov. 30
Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 top cop, Chief Superintendent Isagani Cuevas, reiterated the call for gun owners in Western Visayas to avail of the extended firearms amnesty program (Executive Order 817-A) which will end in a week.
Cuevas said that gun owners should take advantage of the extension and the very minimal fee in the amnesty program which started last October 1, 2009.
A report from PNP National Headquarters revealed that an estimated of 29,440 unrenewed firearms licenses and 23,319 unregistered firearms exist in Western Visayas
As of last week, 5,560 firearm licenses have been already renewed and 1,991 loose firearms have been registered.
The amnesty program covers the patented firearms only. Home-made or Paltik guns will not be accepted for registration but may be surrendered to any PNP unit for destruction, without any penalty to the owner.
Cuevas further warned the people of Region 6 that failure to avail of the extended amnesty program can have serious repercussion on firearm holders who technically are possessors of illegal firearms.
He also said that House Bill 6776, which seek to impose stiffer penalties against persons and entities possessing illegal firearms and ammunition, is now pending in Congress. Under the Bill, prison terms for illegal possession of firearms are not subject to probation, hence, offenders can never escape prison.
