The registration of 11,234 licensed firearms in Bacolod City are up for renewal, records of the Bacolod City Police as of Thursday showed.

Of the total number, 9,436 are owned by individuals while 1,798 are possessed by juridical entities, which include security agencies.

Chief Inspector Sherlock Gabana, city police public information officer, said the Bacolod police will identify gun owners who will be subject of search warrants, if they still fail to renew their firearms registrations.

The Bacolod police earlier called on gun owners to surrender their firearms to the nearest police station while they are in the process of renewing their registration.

As of August 9, records showed that seven gun owners have already renewed their licenses since the launch of the Police Regional Office-6’s (Western Visayas) “Tokhang Kontra Guinadili-an nga Pusil” campaign on July 23.

Since then, 19 gun owners have also started processing the renewal of their firearms licenses, he added.

Records also showed that 34 gun owners have deposited while two others have surrendered their firearms to various Bacolod City police stations while they are processing the renewal of their gun licenses.

Under the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act or Republic Act No. 10591, gun owners are required to renew the licenses to possess firearms every two years while firearm registration needs to be updated every four years.

There are 296 firearms, including those of 287 individuals and nine of juridical entities, whose addresses cannot be located. (PNA)