BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office has seized 183 loose firearms from January to July this year as part of its campaign against unlicensed guns.
These include 120 confiscated in various police operations while 63 were surrendered by the owners while they are processing the renewal of their firearms licenses.
Senior Supt. Rodolfo Castil, police provincial director, presented the firearms in a press conference together with several chiefs of police at the Negros Occidental police headquarters in Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. Monday afternoon.
Castil said some of the firearms were deposited by the owners to the police as part of the Police Regional Office-6’s (Western Visayas) “Tokhang Kontra Guinadili-an nga Pusil” campaign launched last month.
Among those who surrendered their firearms were local officials and even policemen who possess their own guns.
“I thank all of those who adhered to the campaign and surrendered their guns while they are processing their papers,” he added.
Castil appealed to those who still possess unlicensed firearms to surrender their guns to the police first to avoid being the subject of search operations.
“By Wednesday, we will start our ‘iron-hand approach.’ We will secure search warrants for the operations. (But) if you surrender your firearms, these will be properly documented,” he added.
In Negros Occidental, the police has recorded 11,184 licensed firearms. The license of 10,908 guns, including those in the possession of security guards, have already expired and are up for renewal.
In its campaign, the Negros Occidental police has underscored the threat of loose firearms to everybody’s safety and security and to the overall peace and order condition of the community.
The threat brought about by loose firearms particularly those in the possession of unscrupulous and unauthorized persons can be seen from the successive shooting incidents as reported in the news and the social media, it added.
“If we don’t altogether support and cooperate in the campaign, anybody can be a victim of loose firearms just like the victims of the recent shooting incidents. So, the cooperation and support of everybody in campaign is indispensable as this may “save your (Tokhang subject) own life and save the life of others,” the Negros Occidental police further said.(Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
