WESTERN Mindanao policemen have intensified their campaign against illegal firearms and private armed groups (PAGs) in the region as part of their efforts to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the May 12, 2025 mid-term elections, the Journal Group learned on Sunday.

Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9) director, Brigadier General Bowenn Joey M. Masauding said they have started security preparations for the 2025 mid-term polls taking the cue from a series of directives issued by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil.

Western Mindanao is home to the provinces of Zamboanga del Note, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay and the highly-urbanized Zamboanga City. It has 1,904 barangays, many of them located in the cities of Zamboanga, Dapitan, Isabela and Pagadian.

The PRO9 is going all-out against holders of loose firearms and other deadly weapons as well as active and inactive private armed groups in the region which has eight congressional districts.

Brig. Gen. Masauding said their focused law enforcement operation against illegal firearms and drugs will continue this year with the service of search warrants for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The official said they are particularly targeting local gunsmiths who are behind the manufacture of home-made weapons that can be easily bought by lawless elements including drug traffickers, robbers and guns-for-hire operating in the region and its nearby areas.

The PRO9, in collaboration with the Regional Civil Security Unit 9 is also intensifying efforts to account for holders of licensed guns with expired License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) and Certificate of Registration since these weapons are already considered loose firearms. There are more than 14,000 firearms with unrenewed permits in the region, records showed.

The local police since the year started have stepped up the implementation of PNP Oplan: Katok in which they request holders of guns with expired permits to renew their papers or surrender them for safekeeping until they have renewed their LTOPFs and Certificates of Registration. They have also sought the help of the PNP-CSG in holding ‘LTOPF Caravans’ aimed at assisting the public in getting or renewing their gun papers.

Brig. Gen. Masauding said that following the issuance of Comelec Resolution No. 10999 which set the 2025 election period and amid the orders given by Gen. Marbil, he convened a command conference at the PRO9 headquarters in Camp Colonel Romeo A. Abendan in Zamboanga City to discuss their security preparations.

The meeting was attended by all key PRO9 officers, provincial and city police chiefs and heads of PNP National Operational Support Units stationed in the region.

During the command conference, Brig. Gen. Masauding assured the public of their unwavering commitment to uphold the sanctity of the election process by fully addressing potential issues and other concerns in the coming polls.

They include the total accounting of loose firearms, the dismantling of illegal drug syndicates and the neutralization of armed groups and their members.

“We are still six months away from the election period but we need to do this and what better time to do this than now? We will fully support the Chief,PNP in meeting his commitment to safeguarding the democratic process and ensuring that the people will be secure when they vote,” the Western Mindanao police director said.

Brig. Gen. Masauding also ordered all PRO9 unit commanders to maximize the deployment of their uniformed personnel in the streets.

“Make the people know and feel they are safe. Sa bahay man, sa trabaho, o sa kalsada. How we manage peace and order in Zamboanga Peninsula today will make a world of difference in the outcome of the upcoming elections,” he said.

During the conference, the regional staff and the regional chiefs of NSUs in the region provided a comprehensive overview of the peace and order situation in Western Mindanao.

The provincial directors of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay, the Zamboanga City Police Office director and the chief of the Isabela City Police Station in Basilan shared detailed insights about their security preparations.

These included a review of past election-related incidents, identified areas of concern, the strategies that will help bolster its stance against lawlessness, and their forecasts.

Brig. Gen. Masauding likewise stressed the importance of collaborating with local government units, their counterparts from the Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies including the Task Force Zamboanga noting that the PRO9 will be more effective when working closely with its government partners and other stakeholders.

He also called for unity and collaboration among all police unit, underscoring the elements of alignment and coordination among regional, local, and national support units in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

From January 12 to June 11, 2025, the Comelec will impose a nationwide ban on the unauthorized carrying of firearms. The 90-day campaign period for national candidates will start from February 11 to May 10 next year while local bets can campaign from March 28 to May 10.

Gen. Marbil ordered the stepped-up drive against private armed groups as well as illegal drugs and firearms as part of their preparations for the 2025 elections saying it is very important to target illegal firearms, drugs and PAGs that could disrupt the democratic process.

In line with this, police have further intensified their Oplan: Katok aimed at accounting for guns with expired licenses and permits as well as the conduct of checkpoints and other police interventions to recover illegal firearms at the hands of criminals and other lawless elements.

The PNP leadership said that the intensified operations private armed groups and loose firearms will be tightly enforced not only in Mindanao but also in all parts of the country as they will not allow anybody to use these armed elements for their personal interest.

Before the May 2022 national and local elections, the National Task Force on the Disbandment of PAGS said over 130 armed groups were being monitored in Mindanao alone by authorities.

Gen. Marbil ordered his men to further intensify their intelligence-gathering to keep a close eye on all potential private armed groups as well as syndicates involved in gunrunning activities.

The top cop said they are making sure there will be no trouble or any incidents that would affect the peaceful and credible conduct of the forthcoming elections, thus his order to further polish their security measures six months before the polling period.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon