BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The One Stop Shop (OSS) of the PNP Civil Security Group (CSG) Firearms and Explosives Office is looking into the possibility of identification card printing in various regional offices all over the country in response to persistent complaints over the delay in the issuance of gun licenses.
Col. William Señoron, OSS chief, said yesterday that the CSG, under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Rolando Hinanay, has initiated some innovative schemes on how to further improve the delivery services to clients, including the ID printing of License to Own and Possess Firearm (LTOPF), License to Exercise Security Profession (LESP), and Permit to Carry Firearms Outside Residence (PTCFOR).
The OSS shortens the processing time applications and renewals of gun licenses, and of LESP.
But because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the processing of LTOPF and LESP at the OSS in Camp Crame and its regional offices had been suspended for several months since April.
After the restrictions were eased, Señoron said the influx of about 700 to 800 LESP and LTOPF applicants a day became a problem for them.
This prompted them to open the OSS office even during the weekend and holidays, aside from allocating an annex office at the PTCFOR to help process LESP applications in getting clearances from the Directorate for Intelligence, and for those taking neuro-psycho and drug tests for LTOPF applications.
More than 100,000 residents from Western Visayas are licensed firearm holders.
Señoron said that OSS is opening extension offices in various police districts under the National Capital Region Police Office, to duplicate the office established at the Manila Police District.*