PNP to inspect firearms licenses ahead of Eleksyon 2025

The Philippine National Police-Civil Security Group (PNP-CSG) will visit individuals who were issued licenses to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) nationwide for inspection and verification in preparation for the 2025 national and local elections, it said Tuesday.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said authorities will prioritize around 2,000 holders of the Type 5 license or those who are allowed to own more than 15 firearms.

She said authorities will check if their licenses are valid and if the firearms are in their actual possession during the visit. 

“Pag dating nga po nila doon ay titignan po. Kasi pursuant din po doon sa [RA] 10591, kapag ikaw po ay holder ng Type 5 license po ay dapat po ay meron po ‘yang container at secured po ‘yan ng lock and key,” Fajardo said in a media briefing.

(Once they are there they will inspect. Because pursuant to the RA 10591, if you are a holder of the Type 5 license, you should have a container and it should be secured by a lock and key.) 

“So pagdating po doon ay pakikiusapan po ‘yung mga owners po ng mga baril po na ito baka magkaroon lang po ng… inspection. Ito po bang mga naka listang baril sa kanila ay nandoon pa po sa possession nila,” she added.

(Once they are there, they will appeal to owners for a possible inspection. If the guns listed are actually in their possession.)

Fajardo said that authorities will first write to the gun owners before visiting.

She also clarified that authorities will not enter the houses of the gun owners. 

“Kung saka-sakali pong hindi po sila matatagpuan doon for whatever reason, nag transfer na po without informing ‘yung [Firearms and Explosives Office] na nag transfer na po sila ng bahay and there is a corresponding administrative action that would be implemented,” she said.

(If they are not at their address for whatever reason, if they transferred without informing the FEO, there will be a corresponding administrative action against them.)

Meanwhile, she said that if authorities find that such LTOPFs have expired, they will urge the holders to renew their licenses.

Fajardo said implementation began on Monday, November 11.

“Pag matapos po itong mga Type 5 holder po ng license po, then isusunod po nila ‘yung mga Type 4 hanggang Type 1 po,” she said.

“Sabi nga natin, kung hindi po matapos ito po, during the duration po nitong election period, it will proceed hanggang makumpleto po nila ‘yung verification at inspection nitong LTOPF at ‘yung may mga FR po,” she added.  

(As we said, if it's not completed during the election period, it will proceed until they complete their verification and inspection of the LTOPFs and FRs.) — BM, GMA Integrated News