The PNP and its FEO

Less than a decade ago, the Philippines ranked No. 3 in the world with most journalists killed, after both Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the AFP, reserve officers are usually issued a .45 caliber pistol, but which must remain only at the camp. So I was thinking of getting a smaller and lighter 9mm pistol for both self protection, and to go shooting with friends in media and government service.

Many of these gun owner friends have remarked how they are now able to keep track of their firearm registrations, licenses and renewals since the system went fully online more than a year ago. They can now log on to their individual accounts and check on the status as well as see all pertinent details of their guns, like serial number, expiration dates, brand, and caliber. The PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office utilizes this online system to keep accurate, and more importantly secure records of the 1.7 million or so firearms in the hands of police, government and private individuals. This advancement came about due to the insistence of the current FEO head, Val De Leon, to immediately implement the online gun system upon assumption to office.

The FEO had no choice but to level up after Congress passed RA 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act in May 2013, making it one of the toughest gun ownership laws in the world. The law gives special mention to judges, prosecutors, cashiers and journalists as needing access to self-protection. It took some time for the PNP-FEO to reform their system especially to implement the new law. Prior to that, there were too many loopholes and lapses; and even during the implementation of the new law, errors in the system and other birth pains still existed. Since individual firearm registrations are now renewed every four years, and licenses to own them are renewed every two years, the revenues on a per year basis cannot be compared like apples to apples. All fees and payments are made only to any Landbank branch.

Another reform undertaken by De Leon was to simplify the registration and license process which made it easier for legal gun owners to comply with the 11 requirements of the new law. Gone are the days when registering or renewing a firearm entailed the hassles of going to the FEO office in Camp Crame, often busier than a typical day in Divisoria. The new one-stop-shop building made the mandatory testing for drug use and neuro-psychological fitness more convenient for the gun owners. Some gun owners still feel hassled by a mandatory drug and neurological test but if you take note that there aren’t any mass shootings in the Philippines, unlike in the US, one can appreciate the toughness of our local gun laws.

De Leon also came up with the provisional license to possess which allowed many gun owners to already renew their expired gun registrations, whilst still complying with other requirements for ownership. It was also under his watch that the implementing rules and regulations of the new law was finally completed, three years in the making. Val De Leon has done such a great job at the FEO that rumor has it he will soon be given another challenging assignment in Region 11. The gun industry and shooting community can only hope that his successor, if ever, will keep up the good work.