BAGUIO CITY – The Police Regional Office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO-CAR) said it has in custody around 2,457 loose firearms in a bid to ensure the safety of the people against unauthorized users and use of firearms.
In a report, PRO-CAR Director PBGen. David Peredo said 2,260 firearms were surrendered by their owners, 138 were confiscated and 59 were recovered in different police operations from June 30, 2022 to July 31, 2024.
PNP-Abra had the most number of loose firearms under its custody at 741, followed by the provinces of Benguet, 333; Kalinga, 296; Mountain Province, 295; Baguio City, 289; Ifugao, 282; and Apayao, 221.
Loose firearms are those with revoked licenses or in possession of persons other than the registered owners.
Pending the renewal of the registration of the firearm and the owners authority to possess it, they are encouraged to bring the item to the nearest police station for safekeeping.
Aside from the firearms, there were also 143 grenades, 190 other explosives, 224 magazines and others seized and confiscated by the different units.
The report also said there were 160 persons arrested from the 2,542 illegal firearms operations, and 147 cases have been filed.
“We still continue with the Oplan Katok program to encourage gun owners to renew their expired firearms licenses including their licenses to own and possesses the same or bring the firearm to the nearest police station for safekeeping to avoid facing any problem,” Peredo said in a phone interview, referring to the house-to-house visitation to check for loose firearms. (PNA)
Comments