The Police Regional Office – Central Visayas (PRO-7) will have house-to-house visitations of gun owners with expired licenses. This is in support to their continuing campaign against loose firearms as mandated under Executive Order 817 or the National Firearms Control Program.
Police Regional Office (PRO-7) Firearms and Explosives Unit (FEU) Head P/Supt. Jacinto Cesar bared that since the EO took effect this month, only 132 license firearms were renewed as of August 20.
The reduction of loose firearms is also aimed to prevent the use of illegal firearms in wrecking harassment and violence in next year’s polls with the 2010 Presidential race.
But even before the EO took effect this month, the PRO-7 already renewed 879 licenses as of July 22 exceeding the three percent monthly target as the figure accounts for 4.3 percent of the 20,370 guns with expired licenses in Central Visayas.
A one-month amnesty from October 1 to 31 is likewise given to gun owners whose weapons have never been registered.
Those who failed to adhere until the deadline has lapsed, will face stiff penalties ahead for possession of loose firearms. (PIA/FCR)