Police Regional Office 11

      The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to Executive Order No.817 was formally signed today in Camp Crame setting into motion the administrative and operational procedures to be followed by PNP units in implementing the National Firearms ControlProgram.

       Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo V Puno was the Guest of Honor in the ceremonial launch of the National Firearms Control Program.

       According to the Puno, the implementation ofthe National Firearms Control Program is a “big step towards achieving the goal of having complete peace and order in our nation”.

       Stakeholders including Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, General Victor S Ibrado; Philippine Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo; National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director, Atty. Nestor Mantaring; Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General, Undersecretary Dionisio Santiago; Undersecretary Cecilio Penilla from the DOTC, Office for Transportation Security; DILG-PNP Inter Agency Task Force Head, ASec Oscar Valenzuela; Bureau of Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales; Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan; Philippine Ports Authority Administrator, Atty Oscar Sevilla; as well as other representatives from various associations of gun dealers and manufacturers were present in the signing.

       PNP Chief, Director General Jesus A Verzosa said that the signing of the IRR serves as the “green light” in the intensified campaign against loose firearms.

       Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Executive Order NO. 817 mobilizing concerned agencies to implement the National Firearms Control Program in a bid to account for all loose firearms in the country.

       In issuing Executive Order NO. 817, the president desires to reduce by at least 3 percent every month the estimated 1.1-million loose firearms currently in the hands of threat groups, criminal elements and unauthorized individuals.

       With these marching orders, the PNP is targeting to account for some 33,000 loose firearms within the first month of implementation of EO817.

       The administrative aspect of the National Firearms Control Program provides for an effective system of accounting of all firearms registered to government agencies,corporations, LGUs and entities; as well as all confiscated, captured, surrendered, deposited, abandoned and those firearms in the custody of the AFP, PNP and other law enforcement agencies; and firearms submitted as evidence under court proceedings.

       Intensified police operations against the proliferation of unregistered firearms thru random weapons check operations in crime-prone areas; mobile checkpoint and chokepoint operations; intelligence build-up; internal security operations; application of Search Warrants; and dismantling of private armed groups and criminal gangs, syndicates and threat groups will be given priority operational action for implementation.

       The start of the processing of applications for the general amnesty for the registration of loose firearms including those covered by expired licenses will begin on August 1,2009 and all PNP units have been given instructions to extend maximum assistance to all applicants for firearms registration.