BACOLOD CITY — Police stations in Negros Occidental and in Bacolod City received a total of 700 guns turned over for safekeeping by owners still in the process of renewing their firearms permits.
Between July 24 and September 6, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) listed 490 deposited firearms. The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) recorded 210 firearms submitted to its 10 police stations from July 23 to September 3.
The police said these firearms will be released to their respective owners after they present documents showing that they have an updated license to possess and to own, and have renewed their firearms permits.
These guns were turned over to police custody as part of the “Tokhang Kontra Guinadili-an nga Pusil” or campaign against loose firearms of Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) launched on July 23.
Senior Insp. Aireen Cordua, public information officer of NOCPPO, said aside from those deposited for safekeeping, they also received 11 firearms surrendered by owners who are no longer interested in renewing their permits.
A total of 21 homemade guns were surrendered while 50 others were confiscated during police operations in Negros Occidental.
In Bacolod, police records showed that 1,288 owners of firearms were subjected to “Tokhang Kontra Ginadumili-an nga Pusil” since July 23.
As of September 3, there are still 8,225 firearms with un-renewed licenses in the city out of the listed 11,234 firearms in Bacolod.
So far, only 98 firearms have renewed licenses, based on police records.
Chief Inspector Sherlock Gabana, public information officer of BCPO, said they have identified 42 firearms with new owners not yet included in their records.
A total of 15 firearms were also confiscated through “Oplan Kontra Boga” campaign against loose firearms through police checkpoints and response operations. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
