Marbil orders massive drive vs illegal guns, PAGs for safe 2025 polls
PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil on Thursday ordered all PNP units nationwide to further intensify their crackdown against loose firearms and partisan armed groups ahead of the January 12, 2024 local and national elections.
The top cop said the directive is aimed at reducing the proliferation of illegal guns and PAGs that could be used to create violence as the election season heats up around the country. It was also in consonance with the order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who presided over a National and Regional Peace and Order Council meeting at Camp Crame and a PNP command conference on Thursday morning.
“This directive is designed to bolster public safety and mitigate potential violence, thereby promoting a peaceful democratic process,” he said.
“Our intensified campaign against private armed groups and loose firearms underscores our commitment to providing a safe environment for every Filipino, especially as we approach the election period. The PNP is resolute in its mission to dismantle these groups and eliminate threats to peace,” Gen. Marbil emphasized.
Citing official statistics, the PNP said that from January 1 to November 30, 2024, there have been significant police achievements in this initiative following the arrest of 8,628 individuals for violations of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013.
During the period, a total of 25,240 firearms were either confiscated, recovered, or surrendered, with an additional 9,932 firearms turned over for safekeeping.
The highest number of arrests for firearms law violations were recorded by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headed by Brigadier Gen. Anthony A. Aberin with 2,033 arrests, followed by Police Regional Office 3 in Central Luzon under Brig. Gen. Redrico A. Maranan with 979 and the Police Regional Office 7 in Central Visayas with 906.
In terms of confiscated or surrendered firearms, the PRO 7 formerly headed by Brig. Gen. Aberin led with 3,951 cases, followed by PRO 6 in Western Visayas headed by Brig. Gen. Jack L. Wanky with 3,023 and NCRPO with 2,175.
The campaign against PAGs has also seen notable progress, said Gen. Marbil with the number of active PAGs found to have decreased from six in 2023 to three this year following the disbandment of the Kunti Melo Group in Bukidnon and the Bal and Mayo Groups in Nueva Ecija.
