STARTING this week, gun licenses may be renewed in regional offices.
This after the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order on some provisions of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
These provisions include the centralizing of the application and renewal of gun licenses at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City; utilizing any courier services for deliveries of the approved firearms license cards; and allowing police personnel to enter the residences of firearms applicants and owners without a court-issued search warrant for inspection.
Senior Supt. Erson Digal, chief of the Regional Operations Division of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said that starting this week, they will accept licensing and registration of guns by their owners at the satellite office in the PRO-7 headquarters.
The TRO was reportedly issued at the behest of gun owners who complained that the centralization was a gross inconvenience since they have to go to Camp Crame for the licensing and registration of their firearms.
Digal said they are now preparing the firearms information management system where the data of the registration will be stored.