PNP suspends all permits to carry guns outside homes in NCR

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) has suspended all permits to carry firearms outside of residence in the National Capital Region (NCR) in time for President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address on Monday (July 26).

In a PNP memo obtained by INQUIRER.net, the suspension will take effect starting at 8 a.m. on July 21 until 8 p.m. on July 28, 2021.

Only uniformed service personnel and law enforcers on official duty would be allowed to carry guns, according to the memo dated July 16 and signed by PNP Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

“This is to ensure that the activity will be free from firearm-related incidents and to ensure the safety of the populace,” it said, referring to Duterte’s last SONA.

Duterte will deliver his sixth and final SONA at the Batasang Pambansa.

The PNP said no threats had been monitored so far but it was “ready to respond to any eventuality.”

Around 15,000 police personnel would be deployed to secure the SONA.

NCR police will use body-worn cameras “to help monitor the movements of suspicious persons who may be planning to disrupt the SONA,” the PNP said.

TSB