Interior Secretary Mar Roxas: Loose firearms are used in crimes that the PNP is fighting. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered an inventory of private firearms in the safekeeping of the Philippine National Police, following reports that some guns were taken out of the PNP warehouse without authorization.
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas also warned gun traders, importers and dealers engaged in the illegal gun trade that they face imprisonment and suspension of their business licenses.
The DILG issued the statement amid reports that private firearms under the PNP’s custody had been unofficially taken out of the PNP warehouse.
Roxas said that the guns, prior to being sold by private dealers, were initially in the safekeeping of the PNP.
“We have ordered an initial inventory of the firearms and we learned that some of the guns are missing. The PNP said, for example, if 10 guns are supposed to be there, only six or eight are left,” he said.
Roxas has ordered the inventory of all private firearms stored at the PNP warehouse to check if there was an increase in the number of loose firearms.
An investigation will determine who will be held accountable.
The interior secretary met with PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and Director Carmelo Valmoria, National Capital Region Police office chief, to discuss the proliferation of loose firearms.
Roxas has also directed the PNP to ask the concerned gun traders and importers for an explanation on why their business licenses should not be suspended.
“They will be made to show cause why their licenses shouldn’t be suspended until we finish our audit of where these missing guns are,” he said.
He pointed out that loose firearms were used in crimes that the PNP was fighting.