PNP chief orders intensified accounting of loose firearms ahead of 2022 polls

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar ordered all police chiefs and other area commanders on Sunday to strengthen their campaign against loose firearms ahead of the 2022 elections.

“I have already instructed all our chiefs of police and area commanders to intensify the accounting of loose firearms as part of our early preparation for the peaceful, honest and orderly conduct of elections next year,” Eleazar said in a statement.

The PNP’s campaign also includes intensified operation against gun-running syndicates and encouraging gun owners with expired licenses to renew their firearm registration.

“Kasama dito ang maigting na operasyon laban sa mga gun-running syndicates at ang mga baril na matagal nang hindi nare-renew dahil maari itong gamitin na instrumento ng karahasan upang ma-impluwensiyahan ang resulta ng Halalan 2022,” the chief added.

(This includes ramped up operations against gun-running syndicates and guns that are not renewed as it can be an instrument of violence to influence the results of the 2022 polls.)

Eleazar stressed the need to get ready for the polls by coming up with strategies that would deny threat groups an opportunity to influence the results such as assassination of contenders and rival supporters.

“Lahat tayo ay nagnanais na magkaroon ng tahimik at tapat na halalan sa susunod na taon subalit ito ay isang adhikain na nangangailangan ng kooperasyon ng COMELEC, ng mga pulis at ng sambayanang Pilipino,” the chief expressed.

(We all want to have quiet and truthful elections next year. However, this is an objective that needs the cooperation of the Comelec, the police, and the public.)

PNP data shows that there are 664,480 firearms owned by private individuals with expired licenses as of the second quarter of the year.

Meanwhile, the PNP intelligence community’s validation on the number of loose firearms is currently underway.

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