People visit the Tactical, Survival, and Arms Expo during its opening as a hybrid expo in SM Megamall on July 15, 2021. The four-day expo aims to “inform and educate the public about the need to prepare for emergency situations and disasters including pandemics that impact the health and safety of Filipinos.” Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Philippine National Police urged firearm owners to practice responsible handling and secure storage of guns in light of three school shootings in recent months.
The incidents involved firearms either issued to or owned by government personnel.
The PNP’s Civil Security Group has rolled out its nationwide “Gun Safety Advocacy Campaign” to promote responsible firearm ownership, proper storage, safe handling, and measures to prevent unauthorized access and use.
The program comes after three fatal school shooting incidents in Tacloban, Zamboanga City and in South Cotabato, where students got access to firearms owned by their parents and relatives working in the government.
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“Recent firearm-related incidents involving minors remind us that gun safety cannot be taken for granted,” PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. said.
The PNP added that all police regional offices and local police units have been directed to intensify public information drives on responsible firearm ownership.
The CSG has also been instructed to conduct gun safety seminars and stakeholder engagements nationwide to expand public awareness on firearm safety practices.
“Owning a firearm comes with a continuing duty to keep it safe and secure,” Nartatez said.
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GUN AUDIT
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno has meanwhile filed House Resolution No. 1468 to call for a nationwide safety audit, inspection and inventory of all firearms issued, owned and possessed by government officials and personnel.
He said the resolution aims to ensure guns do not fall into the wrong hands, to make negligent owners accountable, and to fix government policies on gun possession.
Firearm possession is legal under Philippine law, subject to licensing and registration.
Three students died in a school shooting in Tacloban City, Leyte on June 22, while a separate shooting in Ateneo de Zamboanga killed two on August 18.
The latest shooting was in Banga, South Cotabato on September 18 that left three dead and six injured.
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