PNP revokes gun permits of former Abra mayor

By Franco Jose C. Baroña

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has revoked the gun permits of a former town mayor in Abra and ordered all of his registered firearms confiscated for submitting falsified documents to obtain a firearm license.
    The revocation was initiated against former Langiden mayor Artemio Donato Jr. as a result of the continuous evaluation and audit of uploaded documents for the application of License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) and Firearm Registration (FR), PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) chief BGen. Paul Kenneth Lucas said in his directive issued on May 24.
    Lucas said the audit showed that Donar misdeclared the "true and correct qualifications, the type of license and other licenses he possesses."
    It was also discovered that Donato bears different signatures on his other documents uploaded such as the FR form for the transfer of a firearm, the FR form for a newly purchased firearm and the deed of sale of a firearm.
    "This only showed that the application forms and the deed of sale are void and there are misrepresentations, misdeclaration/falsity committed, thus he has not completed the standards and requisites for issuance of and obtaining an LTOPF to allow him to acquire firearms and ammunition," Lucas pointed out.

    Registered under Donato's name are 15 firearms of different kinds and calibers.

    Lucas directed Donato to turn over all his registered firearms within 48 hours upon receipt of the notice to the

    Regional Civil Security Unit Cordillera for subsequent disposition of PNP-FEO.

    He said the failure of the former mayor to comply with the directive would constrain the PNP to take the necessary step to confiscate the registered firearms in his possession.