DUMAGUETE CITY – Holders of firearms that are unlicensed or whose licenses have yet to be renewed are urged to voluntarily surrender these to the police.
Supt. Gregorio Galsim, Dumaguete police chief, disclosed Wednesday that since his assumption to his current post last January, he has already signed at least 30 letters to individuals who need to renew their firearms licenses.
Galsim said those who fail to renew could be the subject of visitations under their Oplan Katok.
"I have written several persons already, and maybe they may have renewed their licenses already but their names have not been updated yet at the higher office. We will advise these people to turn over their firearms to the police for safekeeping pending the processing of the renewal of their licenses,” he said.
Several individuals have already turned over their firearms but Galsim said he could not yet provide an updated count.
Those who fail to surrender their firearms will be subject to further police operations, such as the service of a search warrant, he said.
According to Galsim, the list of firearms holders comes from the Firearms and Explosives, Security Agencies and Guards Supervisory Section (FESAGSS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Meanwhile, Galsim assured that during the election period onward to the May 13 midterm polls, his men are continuously conducting random checkpoints in line with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.
He reiterated that even licensed firearm holders are not allowed to carry their guns outside of their homes, and a Permit-to-Carry a firearm is not recognized at this time as only the Comelec can give the authorization for the same. (PNA)
