By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is urging licensed firearm holders across the country to make responsible gun handling and secure storage a constant practice to prevent unauthorized access and help protect families and communities.
The PNP Civil Security Group (CSG) has rolled out the nationwide “Gun Safety Advocacy Campaign” amid recent firearm-related incidents involving minors in school settings that have renewed concerns over access to legally owned firearms.
The campaign seeks to reinforce accountability among firearm owners and remind them that lawful possession carries responsibilities beyond complying with licensing requirements.
“Recent firearm-related incidents involving minors remind us that gun safety cannot be taken for granted. We are strengthening our advocacy to ensure that legally owned firearms are properly handled, securely stored and kept away from unauthorized persons,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a news release Sunday.
Carrying the tagline “Own a gun responsibly. Gun safety is a continuing duty,” the campaign promotes responsible firearm ownership, proper storage, safe handling, and measures to prevent guns from falling into the hands of persons who are not authorized to possess them.
The PNP has directed all Police Regional Offices and local police units to intensify public information drives on responsible firearm ownership.
The CSG was also instructed to conduct gun safety seminars and stakeholder engagements nationwide to expand public awareness of firearm safety practices.
“Enforcement is important but prevention can stop an incident from happening in the first place. Through public education and community participation, we want responsible firearm ownership and safe handling to become part of everyday practice,” Nartatez said.
The campaign supports the PNP Focused Agenda, particularly the Enhanced Managing Police Operations program, as it seeks to strengthen a culture of responsibility among firearm owners and reinforce the message that preventing firearm-related incidents starts with everyday precautions.
Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is urging the public, particularly students, teachers and school personnel, to familiarize themselves with ALICE, a set of response options intended to help people make informed decisions during the critical first minutes of an active shooter or other violent emergency.
ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate.
NCRPO Officer-in-Charge Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano said preparedness and presence of mind are crucial during emergencies, stressing that people should know their available options and choose the safest course of action based on the situation.
“During an emergency, every second matters. We want our students, teachers, school personnel and the entire Metro Manila community to remember ALICE — not as a rigid sequence, but as a set of options that can help them respond quickly and appropriately when faced with danger,” he said in a separate news release.
Abrahano said the safest response will depend on the circumstances, and members of the public should continuously assess the situation rather than automatically follow a fixed sequence.
“ALICE reminds us that we have options. The important thing is to stay as calm as possible, assess the danger, act decisively and choose the option that gives you the best chance of getting away from harm,” he said.
Abrahano encouraged schools and other institutions to incorporate emergency preparedness into their safety programs, including familiarization with evacuation routes, safe areas and procedures for communicating with authorities during an emergency. (PNA)
