Gun owners in C. Visayas with expired license cannot get police clearance
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, June 6 (PIA) -- Gun owners in Central Visayas who failed to renew their licenses will be denied police clearance as the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 is currently coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 to also do the same.
P/Supt. Rex Derilo, chief of the Firearms, Explosives, Security Agencies and Guards Supervision Section (FESAGSS) of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 issued this stern warning amid the turtle pace in the renewal of licenses.
Derilo said their records show that there are 27,819 gun owners in Region 7 that have expired firearms license as of March, this year.
“We have already notified the various police offices in the region to send respective notices to the gun owners in their list and remind them of their responsibility to renew,” said Derilo.
Derilo added that guns whose licenses have expired are already considered loose firearms.
Under the ‘Kontra Boga’ campaign of the Philippine National Police, one of the measures undertaken to ensure that gun owners are reminded to renew their expired gun license is to conduct house visitations.
But this however hit a snag, admitted Derilo. “In the conduct of house visitations by our police personnel on the field, we received reports that the gun owners no longer live on the listed address,” he said.
Derilo also claimed that some of the names of gun owners listed in their registration record are fictitious which makes it difficult for them to pursue.
To force gun owners to meet their obligation, Derilo said gun owners with expired licenses will not be given police clearance in case they need one.
“We are also coordinating with the NBI 7 to ask them to deny NBI clearance to firearms holders who failed to renew their license,” bared Derilo.
The FESAGSS 7 chief said legal action will be taken against individuals with expired gun license after failing to renew after two years. (FYC/PIA-Cebu)
============
DENR-7 starts Environment Month celeb this June
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, June 6 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has led the start of the month-long celebration of the Environment Month on Monday, June 4.
More than 100 participants attended the foot parade with environmental messages and themes.
Organized by the DENR-7, the activity highlighted the national celebration with the theme, “Global Economy: Does it include you?”
The activity also served as a venue for consultation with the various stakeholders on the protection, rehabilitation, conservation, and governance of the country’s environment and natural resources.
The aim of the annual celebration is to foster public awareness on the urgency of preserving the environment and natural resources.
“This is to spotlight and encourage government offices, organizations, communities and individuals to actively engage in addressing challenges of our fragile environment,” said DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso.
Dichoso called the event “timely” in light of the devastating effects of climate change and the need for concerted efforts to address the problem.
He urged everyone by simply reducing their carbon footprint by cutting down their electrical consumption, thus lessening emissions generated from carbon dioxide and fossil fuel.
June 5, meanwhile, is dubbed as World Environment Day which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.
Thje UNEP defines the green economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.
To date, the DENR-7 has lined up a series of activities for the whole month of June to raise the level awareness on environmental protection and management.
For the past 24 years, the Philippines has been celebrating the month of June as Environment Month pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 237. (DENR-7/FCR/HFG-PIA7)