Time is up.

There would be no more ultimatum for gun holders with expired licenses from now on, said Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., director of Police Regional Office (PRO) 6.

He said the police would now work on applying search warrants to recover the firearms of those who continue to defy the PNP’s call for the renewal of gun licenses. 

"Ang tagal na po nating nanawagan sa mga may ari ng mga armas na ito. Nakipagtulungan po sa atin ang lahat ng media para maparating sa mga nauukulan ang ating adhikain. (We have been calling for so long a time the holders of loose firearms to renew their gun licenses. The media have already helped us with our campaign by reaching out with these people),” Cruz said. 

To date, PRO6 has already visited 11,061 owners of formerly registered firearms.

As of Aug. 30, 2012, the PNP pegged that the number of loose firearms have reached 33,067.

Two months later, the PRO-6 created Task Force "Armas" to focus on the accounting of firearms with expired licenses. The task force is headed by Police Senior Supt. Wesley Barayuga, deputy regional director of PRO-6.

Cruz revealed that 2,247 gun holders have renewed their gun licenses while 3,807 signified their intention to renew their gun lincenses following the creation of the task force.

“’Yong iba po ay gusto mag-renew ng kanilang lisensya kaya lang sa ngayon medyo kulang pa sila ng budget (Many are willing to renew their expired gun licenses, however, for now, they are still lack of budget for the purpose), he added.

The visits also revealed that 454 licensees were dead; 2,237 have changed their addresses; 923 cannot be located or non-existent; 250 claimed to have lost their firearms; 50 denied owning a gun; 425 owners claimed to have sold their guns but ownerships were not transferred; 352 firearms are on process of transfer ownership; 144 are on process of donation; 68 turned in their guns; and 39 firearms are under “custodia legis.”

GUN BAN

Cruz said starting January 13, which is also the start of the election period, police units will gather additional evidence for the application of search warrants, especially against those who possess loose guns and failed to apply for renewal.

"Wala na po tayong magagawa kundi gawin ang nararapat para mapatupad ang ating kampanya laban sa armas na expired na ang kanilang lisensya (We can't help but implement strictly our campaign against loose firearms), he added.

Earlier, PRO-6 announced that gun ban will take effect starting January 13 until June 12 as provided for in Comelec issued Resolutions No. 9561-A promulgated December 4, 2012.

The resolution specifies that new licenses and firearms will not be released to their owners and will be instead kept at the Firearms and Explosives Units and Satellite Offices of the Civil Security Group in Police Regional Offices.

Cruz said gun ban is absolute and only law enforcers who are in uniform and on duty are allowed to carry guns outside their residences. 

"Absolute po ang gun ban. Kahit kaming mga pulis ay pinagbabawalan na magdala ng armas kung di naka-uniform (Gun ban is absolute and even us, police officers, are prohibited to carry guns when not in our agency uniform), he said.

Cruz, however, said processing, approval and issuance of gun licenses for renewal continues. Only issuance of new gun license is suspended.*