No disruption in gun permit processing – PNP

THE absence of a fulltime Philippine National Police chief does not affect the processing of gun permits contrary to reports, the spokesperson of the 150,000-strong police force said Monday.

Since the suspension of PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima in December last year, media reports surfaced that the issuance of permit to carry firearms outside residences has been put on hold, disrupting Firearms and Explosives Office services.

Even though Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina serves as PNP chief in acting capacity, Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. told reporters in an interview that issuance of gun permits was never disrupted.

“Si General Espina mismo ang nagsabi in his meeting last week na gumawa ng sistema para mapabilis ang processing ng PTCFOR. Tuwiran ko ring masasabi sa inyo na pumipirma si General Espina ng license at permit kaya masasabi nating walang disruption. Hindi ito apektado ng kanyang pagiging OIC,” Cerbo said.

BACKSTORY: Without full-time chief, PNP puts on hold permits to carry firearms in public

The FEO issues the PTCFOR to gun owners with threats to their safety, allowing them to carry their guns wherever they go.Under the Republic Act 1059 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, only the PNP chief is authorized to issue PTCFOR.

As the PNP officer in charge, Espina only had limited powers. This didn’t include approving firearms licenses and permit.

It was only in April when National Police Commission gave Espina additional authority to approve and issue gun permits.

Due to the absence of a PNP chief, reports claimed that the PTCFOR secretariat has not been issuing permits since December 3.

Cerbo also said that his classmates in Philippine Military Academy, who hold significant positions in the PNP, could attest that Espina himself signs gun licenses and permits.

“Marahil noon nagkaroon pa ng pag-aayos pero sa ngayon, pumipirma na siya. Nasa additional powers niya ‘yan,” he added.

Cerbo said, according to officials who attended the meeting with Espina, the PNP OIC had suggested means to speed up and shorten the processing of PTCFOR and license to own and possess firearms.

“If I’m not mistaken, one of his innovations was to unify the issuance of receipts. To simplify the process, he suggested that there should only be one collecting agency in issuing receipts,” he said.