Police in Negros Oriental recovered over 300 loose and illegal firearms in the first three months of this year, an official said April 2.
Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), told the Philippine News Agency that the firearms were either surrendered, confiscated, or confiscated during different police operations in the province.
Based on NOPPO records, 296 firearms were seized and recovered during various enhanced police operations while 42 were deposited for safekeeping under “Oplan Katok”, the Philippine National Police’s door-to-door campaign against firearms with expired licenses.
Polinar said loose firearms are those that have never been licensed or registered and do not have any records with the PNP.
“We encourage holders of loose firearms to surrender them to the police as they can be charged with illegal possession of a firearm and for violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban if apprehended,” he said.
Under “Oplan Katok”, firearms with expired registrations are temporarily placed under police custody until the owners have renewed their licenses, he added.
Polinar said the owners/holders of these firearms have not been charged with violation of the Comelec gun ban, except for eight of them who were mostly apprehended during checkpoints.
The PNP has imposed a nationwide gun ban beginning Jan. 12, the start of the election period for the May 12 midterm elections. It will take effect until June 11.
Also during the first quarter of the year, NOPPO said it has seized 1,563.42 grams of suspected shabu worth around P10.6 million, and 20 grams of suspected dried marijuana, valued at more than P34,000 in 149 anti-illegal drug operations.
Polinar said 155 individuals were arrested for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Other NOPPO accomplishments include the arrest of 441 “most wanted” persons and 72 “other wanted” persons.
The NOPPO also expanded its daily checkpoint operations, from an initial nine to a comprehensive network covering all major thoroughfares.
Polinar attributed this escalation to both the creation of the new Negros Island Region Police Regional Office and the heightened mobility of candidates crisscrossing municipal boundaries.
The 24-hour checkpoint system operates in three shifts, combining joint Comelec-PNP-AFP checkpoints enforcing election laws and firearms bans, as well as standard police checkpoints maintaining routine anti-crime operations.
Authorities have already apprehended eight violators of the Comelec gun ban across six municipalities this March, and filed charges for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
The arrests occurred in Vallehermoso, Dauin, Sta. Catalina, Zamboanguita, Sibulan, Jimalalud, and Bais City where two incidents were recorded. ||
