Lobregat urges gun holders to avail of amnesty
Mayor Celso Lobregat has called on gun holders in the city specifically those with expired licenses or no licenses at all, to avail of the firearms amnesty program which has been extended until the end of the month.
The amnesty program covers all firearms in the hands of private individuals and government functionaries and is pursuant to Executive Order 817.
“We strongly appeal to holders of registered and loose firearms to avail of the amnesty program and register their firearms before it terminates on November 30,” Mayor Lobregat said.
He warned that an all out campaign against unregistered and loose firearms will be conducted by the authorities after the deadline. “The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be serious in implementing the policies after expiration.”
Citing records from the Regional Firearms and Explosives Security Agency and Guard Section (FESAGS), Lobregat said there are over 6,000 firearms with expired licenses and over 11,000 unregistered or loose firearms existing in Zamboanga City. “This poses a big challenge to peace and security.”
Nationwide, the number of loose firearms is estimated to reach over P2 million. The area with the most number of loose firearms is the National Capitol Region (NCR) or Metro Manila followed by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Mayor Lobregat advised gun holders to register their firearms in the nearest police station in their community or the FESAGS office in Camp Batalla at the R.T. Lim Boulevard.
The requirements for the amnesty under EO 817 are the following: for expired firearms license—accomplished application form; Xerox copy of expired license; two pieces 2x2 pictures; accomplished application form should be notarized and payment of P650 at the Land Bank of the Philippines.
For unregistered/ loose firearms, the requirements are the following: accomplished application form; any of the following—birth certificate, marriage contract, passport, driver’s license or employment identification card (ID); barangay clearance; local police clearance; proof of address (electric bill or water bill); ballistic test and stencil tracing result; four pieces colored 2x2 pictures and payment of P1, 000 at the Land Bank of the Philippines.
Zamboanga City has been designated as a pilot area in the implementation of the firearm and explosives ban because of the existence of workable and feasible guidelines on gun ban.
Mayor Lobregat said there are numerous challenges that make Zamboanga City distinct from other areas in Mindanao. These include the existence of 3 military camps in the city which is why in numerous instances military personnel or their agents are the ones apprehended for violating the ban; Zamboanga is the entry and exit point to many islands and provinces in Mindanao and that the city is where many government officials of other provinces are residing with their security escorts.
“Zamboanga City is the place where the gun ban will be implemented and if it can be implemented here despite the numerous challenges, then there is no reason why it cannot be implemented in other areas,” the mayor said.
The city government in cooperation with the PNP last weekend sponsored a gun ban summit aimed to make all stakeholders in the region aware about the implementing guidelines on gun ban. (Sheila Covarrubias)