Manila, Sept. 11 -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla raised the possibility of granting amnesty to owners of loose firearms, provided the weapons are surrendered and found to have no links to criminal activity.

During the DILG's budget presentation before the Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday, Remulla said the proposal could help address the large number of unregistered firearms circulating in communities while allowing authorities to determine whether surrendered weapons had been used in crimes.

"If there are two million firearms on the loose right now and 98 percent of the crimes are committed through these, then we will grant an amnesty and determine whether these firearms were use...