OVER 70 loose firearms were accounted for by the Cagayan Valley police last week amid its intensified campaign to recover illegal guns ahead of the May 12, 2025 national and local elections, Police Regional Office (PRO)-2 director, Brigadier General Antonio Marallag Jr. told the Journal Group.

Brig. Gen. Marallag said that last week, a private security agency based in Cauayan City, Isabela voluntarily surrendered for temporary safekeeping 40 12-gauge shotguns and 13 caliber .38 revolvers after their License To Operate expired.

The Cauayan City Police Station headed by Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Nebalasca Jr. convinced the manager/owner of the SMC Security Investigation Services to deposit their firearms to the police while they are still in the process of renewing their private security permits.

Also last week, a 73-year-old widower from Brgy. Santiago, Aglipay, Quirino voluntarily surrendered more than a dozen firearms to the police led by Major Rodel Gervacio.

The septuagenarian said he turned over the weapons consisting of one cal. 30 Garand rifle, one improvised 12-gauge shotgun, 15 cal. .38 revolvers, one cal. .22 revolver, three revolver frames, two revolver cylinders and three cal. .22 magazines to the police out of fear that he may be subjected to a search warrant by the police similar to what happened to another gunsmith in Nueva Vizcaya.

The man claimed that the guns were entrusted to him by some individuals ‘for repair’ many years ago. In the presence of local barangay officials, the Aglipay police took custody of the weapons.

Marallag said they are further stepping-up its campaign against loose firearms in Cagayan Valley ahead of next year’s mid-term polls and are calling on all holders of illegal guns to turn them over to the local police or face the law.

Two weeks ago, the PRO-2 presented around 4, 4,00 illegal guns seized over the past five years by the regional police force.

The weapons are among the so-called Captured, Surrendered, Deposited, Abandoned and Forfeited Firearms (CCSDAF) in the region which will be eventually subjected to demilitarization by the Philippine National Police in order to prevent them from being used in illegal activities in the future.

The PRO-2 director reported to PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil that they are fully coordinating their election security preparations with the Commission on Elections Region 2 headed by Ederlino U. Tabilas, the Philippine Army’s 502nd Brigade and the Philippine Coast Guard District North Eastern Luzon.

Marallag assured Cagayan Valley residents they would be heightening their security measures through conducting an intensified drive against violators of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and the PNP Oplan: Katok.

Marallag said he has ordered all police units in Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Batanes as well as the cities of Cauayan, Ilagan, Santiago and Tuguegarao to continue monitoring the situation in their areas, specifically the presence of loose firearms.

Last week, PRO-2 agents arrested a 76-year old widower engaged in the repair of air guns in Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya after a court-authorized search of his residence led to the recovery of a cache of illegal firearms and ammunition.

The suspect identified as Celedonio Rivera, a resident of Abbagu Street, Purok Mahiwaga in Barangay Inban, Dupax del Norte municipality is now facing criminal charges for violation of RA 10591.

The Pamplona, Cagayan police also arrested a 49-year old farmer from Zone 3, Bgy. Curva after a raid on his residence. The raid resulted in the confiscation of a cal. .38 revolver with 60 ammunition, a cal. 9mm Carbine pistol with a sling, a suppressor and two magazines containing 125 rounds of live 9mm ammunition and two M72 grenades.

The suspect is now facing a non-bailable case for illegal possession of explosives and firearms and ammunition, said Brig. Gen. Marallag.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon