PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde presented Monday in Camp Crame, Quezon City, some 1,025 firearms which were recalled from 96 private security agencies that were ordered closed due to violations.
Albayalde said the seizure of the firearms were part of the PNP’s continuing campaign against loose firearms for security of the forthcoming 2019 midterm elections.
“The PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigative Agencies (SOSIA) of the Civil Security Group (CSG) under Police Chief Superintendent Reynaldo G. Biay has accounted for 1,025 firearms from 96 private security agencies that were served cease to operate orders in 2018,” Albayalde announced.
“We expect to account for more firearms from 356 other private security agencies that are the subject of similar cease to operate orders,” he added.
According to Chief Superintendent Noli Romana, director of the PNP-SOSIA, the private security agencies failed to renew their respective licenses to operate but still conducted operations. He said a memorandum order was issued to the agencies to surrender the firearms they own.
“Mostly, they failed to renew their licenses. We are only giving them 60 days [to renew]. Within 60 days, they should renew their expiring license to operate,” Romana explained.
Romana said they are planning to file administrative charges against the security agencies but stressed an investigation will be conducted to give them time to explain themselves. (Martin Sadongdong)
