(Photo courtesy of PNP)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confiscated a total of 526 pieces of assorted firearms from various security agencies from January 1 to 20 this year.
In a statement Thursday, PNP chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos said the weapons were confiscated by the Civil Security Group-Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agencies (CSG-SOSIA) during inspections of these security guards or agencies.
“Kudos to the CSG and SOSIA hierarchies for these achievements which are in tune to my directives, for all PNP personnel to do what is expected of them, and that is to do what is right,” Carlos said.
These firearms were confiscated for justifiable grounds such as failure to present a valid permit or license to own and possess a firearm or presentation by security personnel of an expired duty detail order (DDO) or lack of it, he added.
Likewise, some firearms were tampered with, defaced, and/or with duplicated serial numbers.
Brig. Gen. Alden Delvo, chief of the PNP's Firearms and Explosives Office, said security guards' firearms are checked by the SOSIA through post to post inspections.
The documents being inspected are the security guards' license to Exercise Security Profession (LESP), the agency's License To Operate (LTO), DDO, and the juridical license to own and possess firearm (LTOPF) of the agency.
Any lacking or expired document shall be a basis for confiscation of firearms, it added.
“This comes with a penalty. The law which governs the security industry, RA 5487, as amended and its 2003 Revised IRR (implementing rules and regulations) directs that the penalty to firearms violations are graded as 'Grave Offenses' and entails a PHP50,000 fine for the first offense and cancellation/revocation of License to Operate for the Private Security Service Providers for the second offense,” Carlos said.
Meanwhile, Carlos has directed all private security stakeholders to heed government rules and regulations of the security industry and be updated with the latest SOSIA issuances to avoid sanctions. (PNA)
