Mababawasan ang kalbaryo ng mga may-ari ng lisensiyadong baril na expired na o mapapaso na ngayong taon.

Ito ay matapos aprubahan ng liderato ng Philippine National Police (PNP) na palawigin ang validity ng mga lisensiya ng baril hanggang Disyembre 2015 upang mabigyang-daan ang full implementation ng bagong Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Law of 2013.

“The Philippine National Police is extending the validity of firearms licenses due to expire in January-December 2014 to allow the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) to refocus more on the information technology enhancements of the firearms registration system,” pahayag ni Chief Supt. Virgilio Moro Lazo, director ng Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO).

Inaprubahan ni PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima ang extenstion ng license validity base sa rekomendasyon ni Lazo.

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Agad na nilinaw ni Lazo na ang ipinatutupad nilang exemption sa firearms license validity ay hindi isang amnesty sa bagong firearms law, subalit upang maisaayos ang sistema ng pagrerehistro ng baril sa PNP.

Base sa PNP record, sinabi ni Lazo na aabot sa 1.7 milyon ang rehistradong baril sa bansa at 621,000 ay may lisensiyang mapapaso na ngayong 2014.

“The extension of the validity of these firearms licenses was prompted by considerations regarding the period of publication of the revised fees and charges for registration and licensing requirements,” pahayag ng opisyal.

“The information technology system for firearms registration is currently being upgraded to meet the demands of the service and the stakeholders which is crucial to the success of the licensing requirements,” dagdag pa ni Lazo. - Aaron Recuenco