By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The head of the security office at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol, Venchito Magalona, yesterday initiated a crackdown on unlicensed firearms after a number of guards employed by their security contractors were caught with fake documents for their guns.
According to Magalona, guards assigned to the Negros First Blood Center were operating with fake gun licenses.
He also pointed out a case where the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Civil Service Unit-18 (RCSU-18) confiscated six fraudulent gun licenses from guards working for the Life Guard Security Agency assigned at provincial government offices.
Magalona, meanwhile, admitted it is difficult to discern between authentic and falsified licenses. He blamed it on a lack of briefings from proper authorities.
The security chief added the office is now regularly checking licenses, especially when the provincial government changes security agencies.
Earlier, RCSU-18 carried out an inspection at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), where they confiscated 12 firearms after they were found to be fake.
The involved security agency is facing an administrative investigation, while the firearms are being examined by the regional crime laboratory./WDJ