CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Gun owners fear that loose firearms will loom not only in Central Luzon but also in other regions with the new centralized gun licensing imposed by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Alan Purisima.
Senator Vicente Sotto III said the decision of the PNP to centralize the firearms regulation in Camp Crame headquarters in Quezon City should be investigated after receiving criticisms from gun owners all over the country.
"Kailangan tingnan sa batas kung allowed yang centralization na yan. Kung wala, pwedeng kuwestiyonin ng Kongreso 'yan," Sotto said in a text message.
He also said that the memorandum to centralize gun registration might not be in accordance with the new law covering firearm ownership.
Sotto added that the PNP bidding on the courier service to deliver firearms license of gun owners may face congressional investigation for merely using LBC to deliver the cards.
Senator Grace Poe, chair on the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said she is convinced that centralizing firearm registration will make it even more difficult for gun enthusiasts to comply with the registration requirement.
A text message circulating in Camp Crame accused Purisima of being "business-minded."
"Very anomalous ito kasi centralized and issuance ng licenses para centrally managed ang negosyo. Pati na ang security guard system," said part of the text message, which circulated late afternoon Friday.
Lawyer Rod Moreno, vice president of Gun Owner Against Congressional Tyranny, said the P190 courier fee for Metro Manila and P290 for the provinces being asked by Werfast Documentary Agency are unreasonable.
Werfast's contract got a five-year contract with the PNP to deliver licenses around the country.
The firm's contract may be revoked if it will be found not "up to the job" of delivering the firearms license cards.
Gun owners are complaining on the delays of delivery and non-delivery of their licenses.
It was also learned that Werfast was awarded the contract in May 2011 but records at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showed that it was only registered in August 2011.
PNP Directorate for Plans Napoleon Estilles signed the contract.
SEC records also showed that a certain Mario Juan, said to be a close friend of Purisima, was among the original owners of Werfast.
Amended incorporation papers of Werfast shows that the current president of the company is retired police general Ireno Bacolod, a former head of Civil Security Group (CSG) and allegedly a close ally of the PNP chief.
Purisima ordered the closure of satellite offices of the CSG tasked to process the licensing of firearms across the country.
Gun owners will now have to go to the PNP headquarters for license renewal and other processes while their license cards will be delivered by Werfast.
This policy was implemented to ensure that the gun owners are really living in the addresses they indicated in the application forms.