BACOLOD CITY — A total of 144 loose firearms were surrendered and deposited by their owners to the Bacolod City Police Office from July 23 to August 15.
Acting city police director, Senior Supt. Francisco Ebreo, said in a press conference on Thursday the firearms consist of 54 high-powered guns and 90 low-powered weapons.
A total of 36 guns will remain with the police for safekeeping since the owners are no longer interested in renewing their registration, while 108 were turned over by their owners, who are still in the process of renewing both their license to own and possess firearms and gun registration.
The data were released by the Bacolod police in line with the Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) campaign, “Tokhang Kontra Guinadili-an nga Pusil”, which was launched in the region last July 23.
Ebreo said some of the owners who deposited their firearms did not actually register their guns with the Bacolod police, but decided to turn over the guns since they are either living or working in the city.
The owners can claim their deposited firearms after they have renewed their license to own and gun registration.
He added the city police will facilitate the donation of the unclaimed firearms to the government.
These can be used by police units and other law enforcement agencies that need more firearms, Ebreo said.
Police records showed that in Bacolod, there are 11,234 registered firearms, 9,346 of which are owned by individuals and 1,798 by juridical entities, including security agencies.
The “Tokhang Kontra Guinadili-an nga Pusil” involves an information operation for loose firearms during house-to-house visits or visits to public and private places or areas of convergence.
In Iloilo City on Monday, PRO-6 Director, Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, appealed to gun owners to surrender their unlicensed firearms to the police.
“We know these loose firearms are the ones being used by criminal elements and unscrupulous individuals in perpetrating crimes, which cause violence in our region,” he said. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
