By: Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) urged gun holders to renew their expired firearm licenses through the License To Own and Possess Firearm (LTOPF) caravan in the province.
Baleros said Nocppo has recorded about 8,000 gun holders with expired firearm licenses, and most of it came from various local government units (LGUs) here.
Baleros said LGUs were previously allowed to acquire firearms for market watchmen and civil security guards without LTOPF but when Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) was fully implemented in 2015, LTOPF is a requirement to allow them to possess firearms.
He, however, said that the firearms of these LGUs were already surrendered to their respective police stations.
“I am appealing to responsible gun holders with expired licenses to take advantage of the LTOPF caravan so that they can conveniently renew their licenses without traveling to the regional headquarters,” Baleros said.
Baleros said he is seeking the approval of the regional headquarters for the monthly LTOPF caravan in the province.
After the caravan, Nocppo will conduct re-visitation on houses of registered gun holders to determine if they heeded its request.
“If they failed, they will be subjected for search warrant to forcibly confiscate their firearms. We are lenient enough and we are bringing our services to their doorsteps,” Baleros said.
Baleros said less than 1,000 gun holders already applied for the renewal of their firearm licenses.
“We want to account and know the location of these firearms to check if it is still in the hands of the registered owners,” he added.
Baleros said he is targeting zero unrenewed firearms before he retires from police service in June next year.
“There is no reason for them not to renew their licenses because we are exerting our efforts here against loose firearms, he added.
