728 loose guns seized in MIMAROPA in 10-days
POLICE Regional Office 4-B director Brig. Gen. Sydney Hernia yesterday announced the confiscation of 728 loose firearms in Mimaropa region following a 10-day drive last month.
In a report to Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos, the PRO4-B director said that the January 21-30 operations in the region was in line with their all-out effort to account for weapons that could be used as an “instrument of violence” during the May 9national and local elections.
He said that 72 of the firearms were deposited for safekeeping by their owners, who are yet to renew their firearm registration papers, while 60 were voluntarily turned over to the local police by the owners during the conduct of the PNP “Oplan: Katok” in the region.
Hernia said that last month, they conducted a total of 8,201 anti-criminality operations, including the service of search warrants for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013, and other police responses.
Those operations led to the recovery of a total of 728 loose firearms, 100 explosives, 798 assorted live ammunition, as well as 422 unregistered guns.
The official gave credit to PRO4-B Deputy Regional Director for Operations Col. Gil Francis Tria for fully supervising their Enhanced Management Police Operations and driving their unit commanders to perform well in their campaign against illegal guns in the region, which is comprised of the provinces of Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, which is home to Puerto Princesa City.
“I laud Col. Tria and all field commanders for this commendable undertaking. Hence, I direct all of them to sustain their zest in our campaign against loose firearms, particularly this time that the national and local polls is approaching,” Hernia said..
