MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police will be seeking legal advice on a final amnesty on loose firearms in the light of a temporary restraining order on provisions in the new gun control law.
Police Chief Superintendent Louie Oppus shows m-16 rifle where confiscated, abandoned, surrendered, captured and deposited guns are in one storage at Firearms and Explosive office PNP Camp Crame, Quezon City. ANDREW TADALAN/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The PNP clarified that contrary to media reports, they have not started the gun amnesty and would still have to iron out certain issues in Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013.
Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP spokesperson, explained that under the new law, the gun amnesty must be implemented within six months of the law’s passage.
However, the Supreme Court in April issued a TRO against certain provisions in the new law – the centralization of all gun regulatory processes, outsourcing of firearms license delivery by courier and warrantless searches of homes in the guise of firearms inspection.
“We will be seeking a legal opinion from the Department of Justice since the six-month period during which the final gun amnesty should be implemented had already lapsed,” Sindac told reporters in Camp Crame.
He also clarified media reports quoting a spokesperson of the Pangasinan police provincial office as saying that the PNP would begin implementing the gun amnesty soon.
The official, identified as Chief Inspector Ryan Manongdo, will be asked to explain his statement to the Firearms and Explosives Office, according to Sindac.
Under the new gun control law, the six month amnesty will apply to owners of loose firearms who will be given a chance to register their guns. It was supposed to be implemented six months after RA 10591 was signed into law.
PNP Director General Alan Purisima signed the implementing rules and regulations of RA 10195 in November 2013.
But in April, the Supreme Court issued a TRO against three provisions of the law, which certain gun groups claimed to be unconstitutional.
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