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BY IAN PAUL CORDERO
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January 20, 2018
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ILOILO City – Fourteen rifle grenades were turned over to the police station in Jaro district.
For each grenade, the person who surrendered them received P1,000 from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
According to Senior Inspector Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, the person availed himself of the “May Kwarta sa Granada” program which aims to curb the proliferation of explosives.
The turnover was made on Thursday night. Sangrines and Senior Police Officer 1 Steven Salaya of the ICPO’s Explosives and Ordnance Division presented the rifle grenades to the press yesterday.
“The person who surrendered the grenades received a total of P14,000,” said Salaya.
He declined to identify the person “kay we wanted to protect his identity and security,” he explained.
Sangrines urged the public to also avail themselves of the benefits of the “May Kwarta sa Granada” program that was launched just last Dec. 14, 2017.
“Gina-guarantee ko gid nga indi sila maging legally liable but will instead be rewarded,” said Sangrines.
In Dec. 23, 2008, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed a law that imposed stiffer penalties for illegal possession of explosives – Republic Act 9516 or “An Act Imposing Stiffer Penalties for Certain Violations of Illegal/Unlawful Possession of Explosives.”
The law imposes the penalty of reclusion perpetua or 30 years imprisonment for the manufacture, sale, acquisition, disposition, importation, or possession of an explosive or incendiary device.
Likewise, it imposes stiffer penalties for the illegal manufacture, sale, acquisition, disposition, importation or possession of a part, ingredient, machinery, tool or instrument used or intended to be used for explosives.
Republic Act 9516 also mandates that mere possession of any explosive or incendiary device shall be prima facie evidence that the person had knowledge of the existence and the explosive or incendiary character of the device.
The mere possession of any part, ingredient, machinery, tool or instrument directly used in the manufacture, construction, assembly, delivery or detonation of any explosive or incendiary device is also punishable under the new law.
The 14 rifle grenades would be turned over to the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Jamindan, Capiz for proper disposition, said Salaya.
“May Kwarta sa Granada” does not only spare from lawsuit those illegally keeping explosives but also protects the public, said Sangrines.
But she warned grenade holders against hand-carrying grenades to the ICPO.
The city police set safe turnover procedures that must be strictly followed, stressed Sangrines. These are:
* Grenade holder must inform the barangay officials concerned of his intention to surrender the explosive.
* Barangay officials would in turn alert the city police.
* Personnel of the police’s Explosives and Ordnance Division would seek out the grenade holder and secure the explosive.
According to Sangrines, those illegally in possession of explosives are subject to police operation and face criminal charges.
“Illegal possession of explosives is a non-bailable offense,” she stressed.
The ICPO has an initial budget of P40,000 for the “May Kwarta sa Granada.”
“We are calling those possessing hand grenades to better turn them over to us. They get to earn money and avoid criminal charges,” said Sangrines./PN
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