By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confiscated at least 331 assorted firearms from various security agencies in Metro Manila since the start of the election gun ban last January 13.
Police Major Gen. Reynaldo Biay, director of the Civil Security Group (CSG), said the number includes 250 firearms from security agencies, which were ordered to stop operations, while 81 others were confiscated through the conduct of post-to-post inspection during the start of the election.
Of these firearms, 55 were 12 GA shotguns, 39 9-mm pistols, 222 .38 caliber, 10 Super .38, one caliber 380, two caliber .32 and two Mac Intratec.
He said that aside from the confiscation of firearms , the security guards of the said security agencies were given Violation Ticket Report (VTR) that they need to settle in the Landbank of the Philippines – upon issuance of an Order of Payment by the Enforcement Management Division (EMD) of the Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA).
SOSIA regulates the operations of security agencies, including keeping in check all security guards detailed at different establishments across the country.
“The confiscation of FAs and subsequent issuance of VTR usually stems from the lack of License to Exercise Security Profession (LESP) of the security guard. The Security Agency of said guard is also penalized for the guard’s violation,” Biay told reporters.
PNP Chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, meanwhile, said the confiscation of firearms was also part of security measures for the upcoming elections, citing that some candidates own security agencies that they may use against their rivals.
“(Candidates) owning a security agency, there is nothing wrong with that because is a legitimate business. What is unauthorized is for them to hire their own agency or own security guard, especially during this campaign period or bearing firearms without Comelec (Commission on Elections) authority,” Albayalde explained.
Albayalde added that the SOSIA also recovered a total of 700 firearms in several security agencies outside Metro Manila.
The PNP chief has also directed SOSIA to implement stricter policies on the hiring of personnel by security agencies, following the recent arrest of a suspected Abu Sayyaf member who worked as a security guard in Muntinlupa.
