Manila: The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has announced a shift from quarterly to monthly inspections and accounting of firearms issued to its personnel. This change comes in the wake of a recent shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, where a BOC-issued firearm was allegedly used by the suspect, the son of a bureau official.
According to Philippines News Agency, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno has issued a memorandum dated August 18, directing the Enforcement Group (EG) and Intelligence Group (IG) deputy commissioners to initiate monthly physical accounting and inspections of all firearms allocated to BOC personnel. The directive emphasizes adherence to existing gun safety protocols and mandates a thorough inventory of all firearms, which must be duly documented and matched against official records.
The memorandum outlines that deputy commissioners are to ensure that district commanders and office heads present and inspect all firearms within the first five working days of each month. It specifies that a paper-based inventory without physical verification will not suffice. Personnel deployed on official assignments are to be inspected either at their location or upon return.
The monthly inspections will verify several key details, including the firearm holder's identity, the validity of mission orders, and the firearm's make, model, and serial number. Each firearm must also have a corresponding Memo Receipt, License, or Letter Order, detailing the registered owner and document specifics. The memorandum further specifies that inspections must assess the firearm's condition, verify the validity of required certifications, and ensure compliance with BOC's gun safety and handling policies.
Nepomuceno highlights that certain circumstances, such as failure to present firearms for inspection or discrepancies in firearm records, will lead to immediate revocation of related documentation. District commanders are tasked with ensuring the surrender of such firearms to appropriate custodians and reporting incidents through the chain of command.
Additionally, commanders must submit a monthly Firearms Accounting and Inspection Report by the seventh working day of the month, detailing inspections conducted, discrepancies noted, and corrective actions taken. EG and IG deputy commissioners will then consolidate these reports and submit them to the Office of the Commissioner by the tenth working day of the month.
This new memorandum replaces the previous quarterly reporting requirements established by the Memorandum on Basic Rules on Gun Safety dated June 29, 2026, which followed a prior shooting incident at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban.
