MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police renewed its call to the Senate to pass a pending legislation imposing stiffer penalties for possession of illegal firearms, saying the move will greatly help in the dismantling of partisan armed groups before the May elections.

PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa made the appeal after the signing of the memorandum of agreement with the Commission on Elections inwhich the police will be expected to keep peace and order in the national elections.

Verzosa said that the bill was passed at the House of Representatives, but has yet to be passed in the Senate.

?We hope that our legislators in the Senate will be able to pass it. This is an important element in the control of firearms and eventually to the control of partisan armed groups,? Verzosa said.

Under the existing firearms law, anyone caught possessing firearms, regardless of caliber, could post bail in court.

?Kung makikita natin yung mga nakarecover ng AFP at PNP sa Maguindanao, yung rifles, mortars, caliber 50s and different types of machine guns, sa present laws natin kahit mahulihan ka you can post bail, kahit isang truck pa yan ng firearms you can still post bail,? Verzosa said.

But under the proposed law, anyone caught possessing high-caliber guns would be arrested and prohibited from posting bail.

?Sa bagong batas natin kung mahulihan ka ng heavy weapons you cannot post bail anymore because the corresponding penalty is reclusion perpetua. Another provision of that bill is that kung mahulihan ka in possession of three or more firearms of any caliber, you cannot post bail anymore,? Verzosa said.