MANILA: A pro-gun advocacy group yesterday called as illegal and unconstitutional the extension of the validity of firearms licences expiring in 2014 to 2015 by Philippine National Police Chief Director General Alan Purisima.
In a statement, Ernesto Tabujara III, president of Peaceful Responsible Owners of Guns (PRO-Guns), said that what the PNP is doing now, which is to require all existing licensed gun owners to re-qualify and re-apply for Licence to Own and Possess (LTOP) retroactively is unlawful.
Tabujara said that the move constitutes “ex-post facto legislation,” which is the retroactive application of a criminal law.
“The LTOP requirement should only be applied prospectively to new gun licence applicants and the existing licensed gun owners should be absorbed or grandfathered under the new LTOP system, without having to re-apply or re-submit new requirements all over again,” he said.
He added that their group will ask the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter.
“For this reason, PROGuns will file a new petition in the Supreme Court questioning the retroactive application of the LTOP system to existing gun owners,” he said.
The PNP earlier said that the extension of the validity of firearms licences expiring in 2014 to 2015, would allow the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) to “refocus more on the information technology enhancements of the firearms registration system” as mandated by Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Law of 2013.
“The extension of expiration of licences expiring in 2014 for one more year does not solve the problem.
The PNP is required by RA 10591 to hold an amnesty for all loose and expired licensed firearms (not just those expiring in 2014), six months after the IRR was issued in 3 January 2014,” Tabujara said.
PNP Civil Security Group (CSG) head Police Director Melito Mabilin earlier said the system upgrades would ease licensing requirements.
Mabilin added the extension was made given “considerations regarding the period of publication of the revised fees and charges for registration and licensing requirements.”
The estimated total number of guns (both licit and illicit) held by civilians in the Philippines is 3,900,000.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
