Bases covered in next AFAD Arms Show

MANILA, Philippines — National shooters, government officials and firearms enthusiasts are expected to show up to tackle responsible gun ownership and self-defense when the Association of Firearms and Ammunitions Dealers of the Philippines Inc. (AFAD) holds the 27th AFAD-Defense and Sporting Arms Show next month. 

More than 61 exhibitors are in line for this year’s second event of the longest running gun show in the country with around 30, 000 delegates from around the country.

This upcoming Defense and Sporting Arms Show comes at the heels of a fruitful AFAD Cup last August that featured around 600 shooters led by former Olympian Jethro Dionisio, Jag Lejano, Edward Rivera, Joey delos Santos, Huey Co together with Evelyn Woods, Marly Martyr and Grace Tamayo. 

The competition served as one of the national shooters’ build-up to the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian Games slated Nov. 30 – Dec. 11 with AFAD vowing to provide backing through ammunition supplies as they enter the final stretch of preparations. 

“We have been giving recognition to our shooters ever since. That’s been our role to the national team. And for this SEA Games as our shooters have already personalized equipment themselves, we canl provide them small things like ammunition and gears,” said AFAD president Alaric Topacio, who has long been a staunch supporter of national shooters like Eric Ang, Carlos Carag, Hagen Topacio and Dionisio. 

More than a mere gun show slated Nov. 14-18 at Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall, the annual event will be a one-stop avenue for the participants as it includes a seminar and educational program on self-defense, responsible gun ownership, firearms safety handling and regulation policy aside from the LTOPF caravan on gun licensing. 

Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Migz Zubiri along with top PNP officials are just some of the personalities that will grace the second AFAD event this year after a successful leg last July.

“We want to engage people not only to the sport but also to the vision of protecting themselves. It’s not only a gun show. We also want to go to the lifestyle side of the show which is training and survival.” added Topacio, who was joined by AFAD vice president EJ Año Jr. in the presser held ay Milkyway Restaurant in Makati yesterday.

“The firearm industry is not just for recreational. Instead we’re here to help the government in their fight against the illicit trade of firearms and the promotion of gun ownership.”