PNP chief wants all loose firearms accounted for
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar during a flag ceremony in Camp Crame, Quezon City, INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police reported on Sunday over 600,000 privately owned guns with expired licenses nationwide. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the PNP, has ordered an accounting of all loose firearms as he urged gun owners to immediately renew their expired licenses.
“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.
Based on PNP data, there are 664,480 firearms owned by private persons with expired licenses as of the second quarter of 2021. From January to August this year, the PNP has confiscated and recovered 7,950 loose firearms in various operations nationwide.
