• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The implementation of Tokhang Kontra Armas Luthang (TKAL) led to the recovery of 745 firearms and the arrest of 151 persons for illegal possession of firearms and explosives in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City from January to June this year.
Records showed that the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) accounted for 653 firearms and apprehended 125 violators while the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) arrested 26 suspects and recovered 92 firearms.
NOCPPO ranked number one in terms of firearms recovery and arrested violators, according to a report of the Police Regional Office-6.
Police regional spokesperson PLt. Col. Arnel Solis said that the implementation of TKAL is aimed at revitalizing the campaign against criminality, specifically targeting the proliferation of loose firearms.
This endeavor employs both the soft-hand approach, known as “Tokhang Panagbalay”, and the iron-hand approach, which involves strict law enforcement through focused police operations, he added.
In a statement, PBrig. Gen. Jack Wanky, police regional director of Western Visayas, lauded the various police units for their efforts, saying their contributions would prevent the occurrence of crimes using firearms.
NOCPPO is also on the top of the list of the most number of recovered explosives at 118; Iloilo PPO – 60; Antique PPO – 49; Aklan PPO – 40; Capiz PPO – 28; BCPO – 11; Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) – 5; Regional Mobile Force Battalion – 4; and Guimaras PPO – 1.
In terms of firearms recovery, the Iloilo PPO ranked second with 367 guns accounted for; Antique PPO – 259; Regional Mobile Force Battalion-6 – 236; Capiz PPO – 208; Aklan PPO – 205; ICPO – 60; and Guimaras PPO – 32. | GB
