THREE years after they were turned over to the police, the Cebu City Government has yet to get back close to 500 firearms that were previously issued to city and barangay officials and department heads.
Department of General Services (DGS) chief Ronald Malacora said he is waiting for the approval of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to allow them to officially turn over the firearms to the police.
Malacora said the firearms were recalled in 2016 for the renewal of licenses.
In the last quarter of 2017, Malacora said licenses of around half of the total number of the City’s firearms were already renewed.
Licenses of the other half were no longer renewed because their documents could no longer be traced.
The City has yet to claim the firearms due to a new Philippine National Police (PNP) directive.
“The police wants that they will be the one to distribute the firearms based on the names that we will endorse to them because according to a new guideline, those who will be issued firearms are those involved in the security,” he told SunStar Cebu.
The City used to issue these firearms to the police, department heads and barangay officials before the licenses expired.
Malacora said the police also requires that those who will receive a City-owned gun should have a license to own and possess firearm (LTOPF) and their names be endorsed by the City. (RVC)