PNP chief Carlos favors streamlining gun ownership requirements

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Dionardo Carlos said on Monday that he is in favor of streamlining gun ownership requirements for eligible individuals.

“Meron na po tayong posisyon diyan at ang sinasabi nga ho natin, dahil doon sa bagong batas, may iba-ibang—may lisensya, may registration, may permit to carry. Ipag-pare-pareho na lang ho natin ito para hindi po nalilito ‘yung taumbayan,” he said in a Teleradyo interview.

(We already have our position regarding this. Based on the new law there are different requirements such as license, registration, and permit to carry. Let’s consolidate these so that our countrymen won’t be confused.)

“So we want it to be accessible, easy para sa mga nais magkaroon ng privilege na makahawak ng baril [for those who want to have the privilege of owning a gun]. So, we make it easy for our citizens who are authorized or qualified to avail of this privilege,” the chief PNP added.

On November 16, the House committee on public order and security approved the substitute bill for the measures seeking to fix the validity of a firearm license. This granted the License To Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) and firearm registration with a five- or 10-year validity.

According to panel chairman Representative Narciso Bravo Jr., this measure also pushes the PNP-Firearms and Explosives Office to issue only one card that already contains both the license and firearm registration.

Carlos, who was recently appointed as the country’s top cop, vowed on Wednesday that his leadership will not tolerate the indiscriminate firing of firearms. He said that he will strictly implement the policy against this, and any that any cop who violates it will be punished accordingly. — BM, GMA News