THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has gained a major headway in its intensified campaign against groups involved in terrorism in the country as well as loose firearms that could be used to commit violence in the streets during the nearly four-month-old administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr., PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. told the Journal Group on Tueday.

The top cop said around 8,000 loose firearms were seized by PNP agents from July to October this year amid the PNP’s stepped-up effort to account for illegal weapons that could be used to commit violence on the streets.

“The illegal weapons were confiscated as a result of our continuous intensified operations to effectively prevent the use of unregistered guns in criminal activities,” the top cop said.

Gen. Azurin added the firearms of various types and calibers were confiscated from different police operations such as checkpoint operations , anti-drug operations and service of search warrants.

PNP data show 8,255 loose firearms were recovered, surrendered, and confiscated, while 4,895 firearms were turned over to the police for safekeeping.

Further, the PNP arrested a total of 2,471 persons found in possession of unregistered firearms and ammunition. All are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013.

“I have directed all police offices around the country to sustain its campaign against loose firearms and other lawless elements of society to keep the streets safe from criminals especially this holiday season. One firearm confiscated can be equated to a minimum of one life saved,” Gen. Azurin said.

PNP records from July 1 to October 6 this year showed the campaign against Local Terrorist Groups during the period led to the arrest of 12 suspects, killing of seven armed targets during police operations and surrender of 195 others. A total of 46 illegal firearms were recovered from the accused.

One of those killed in a gunbattle with commandos from the PNP Special Action Force out  to arrest him in his hideout in Zamboanga Sibugay province was Rasol Motabil Canda alias ‘Kah,’ a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group wanted for murder, rape and homicide.

PNP-SAF director, Brigadier General Edgar Alan O. Okubo said recovered from the possession of the slain suspect were one unlicensed caliber .38 revolver with two spent cartridges and several live ammunition and a fragmentation grenade.

Brig. Gen. Okubo said that prior to the gunfight, a Zamboanga Sibugay regional trial court ordered the arrest of the suspect with no bail recommended.

The official said members of the SAF’s 5th Special Action Battalion launched the intelligence-driven operation to get the elusive suspect with the help of some civilian informants.

He added that members of the 5th SAB tried to serve the warrants for the arrest against the suspect in his hiding place in Barangay Tupilac in RT Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay.

“However, the suspect refused to surrender peacefully and instead fired shots at the SAF raiders who were forced to retaliate killing him on the spot,” said Okubo.

The official described the slain suspect as a member of the Barahama Alih Crime Group reportedly involved in kidnapping-for-ransom, gun-for-hire, extortion and robbery-holdup activities in the province.

Gen. Azurin said that during the same period, the PNP’s drive against Communist Terrorist Groups or members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army led to the arrest of 311 and the surrender of 51 others. Recovered from the CTGs were 369 rifles and small arms.

Meanwhile, the campaign against Private Armed Groups during the same period resulted in the arrest of 2 suspects, surrender of 24 others and the killing of an armed target during a police operation. Seven loose firearms were confiscated from the suspects.

Gen. Azurin said their crackdown against loose firearms during the same 98-day period led to the arrest of 2,675 targets, confiscation of 7,947 assorted illegal guns and the filing of 1,199 cases for violation of RA 10591 against the suspects.

The campaign also forced holders of loose and unregistered guns to turn over a total of 4,675 firearms to the police force for safekeeping while they are renewing their registration papers before the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office.

Gen. Azurin said that although they are seeing to it that the rule of law is always be observed at all times, they will be continuing their operation to account for CTG personalities in the country who have been ordered arrested by the court for various criminal offenses despite a move by a Manila court to dismiss the government petition to declare the CPP/NPA as a terror organization.

He added that members of the CPP/NPA will be arrested if warrants for their arrest have been issued by the courts, or they will be found in possession of illegal firearms and explosives and/or committing actual crimes.

The Department of Justice had said it will appeal the decision of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19 to junk the government’s bid to classify the CPP/NPA as a terror group.

The Marcos government said the legal battle is not yet over as the Manila RTC Branch 19 dismissed the DOJ’s petition for proscription filed in 2018 to label the CPP-NPA as a terror organization.

The DOJ’s petition was filed based on Section 17 of Republic Act 9372 or the repealed Human Security Act of 2007 which mandates the RTC’s ruling before an organization can be formally declared as a terrorist.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines also said that the terrorist designation of the CPP-NPA remains under Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

“The DOJ (Department of Justice) will file an MR (motion for reconsideration). The decision, therefore, is not final. Our lawyers clarified that the designation of the CPP-NPA and NDF (National Democratic Front) as terrorist organizations under ATA 2020 remains in effect to significantly reduce the capability of these designated terrorist organizations to recruit new members and mount hostile actions or acts of terror,” AFP acting spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar was quoted in a number of news reports.

He added that their operations against these threat groups, which continue to gain grounds, will not be affected by the court’s decision.