PNP: Almost 11,000 gun-related incidents from 2022 to 2024
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police has recorded 10,936 gun-related incidents from 2022 until this year, according to PNP Spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo.
In a press briefing on Monday, Fajardo said that 5,172 of the cases were recorded in 2022, around 4,956 in 2023, and 808 so far this year.
“Majority of which are shooting incidents, alarm and scandal, grave threat, and robbery,” Fajardo said.
A total pf 3,792 cases were already filed in court, 3,774 were referred to the prosecutor’s office, and 1,136 are under investigation.
Last March 4, Fajardo announced that civilians would soon be allowed to own semi-automatic rifles after the PNP amended the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act or Republic Act (RA) 10591 implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
Fajardo said these adjustments were already submitted to the University of the Philippines Law Center for publication and will take effect before March ends.
RA 10591, enacted in 2013, permitted civilians to possess high-powered firearms.
The Firearms and Explosives Office and the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies of the PNP Civil Security Group expressed issues with the issued IRR, which led to the filing of its amendment in the same year.
This compelled the PNP to form a technical working group, which subsequently suggested changes, including a ban on civilian ownership of high-powered firearms.
PNP’s decision to amend the IRR was met with mixed reactions, prompting Senator Imee Marcos to file Senate Resolution No. 953, which seeks to probe into “the propriety” of allowing civilians to own semi-automatic rifles.
In another statement, Marcos said the adjustment may lead “to a rise in criminality, terrorism, arms smuggling, and widespread violence in the 2025 elections.”
On the other hand, Fajardo explained that the amendments would also encourage responsible gun ownership, which would also help them easily track gun owners registering their firearms after being allowed to own them.
