Police Regional Office 6 director, Brigadier General Leo M. Francisco inspects part of the 1,760 illegal guns seized by his men across Western Visayas amid their intensified crackdown against loose firearms in the region.
‘TOKHANG’
WV cops launch ‘tokhang’ vs loose firearms to end violence in region, 1,760 weapons seized
ACTING on orders of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) has stepped up its crackdown on illegal firearms and other deadly weapons that could be used to sow violence in Western Visayas, the Journal Group learned on Thursday.
Headed by Brigadier General Leo M. Francisco, the PRO6 launched its Tokhang Kontra Armas Luthang or TKAL program which is a revitalized campaign to address the proliferation of loose firearms in the region.
From August 15 last year to last February 28, the campaign has already resulted in the in the confiscation of 1,760 illegal firearms, said the PRO6 director.
Brig. Gen. Francisco said their soft hand approach called Tokhang Panagbalay is a courteous way of appealing to the community to support and cooperate with the local police by surrendering or depositing their firearms with expired licenses pending the renewal of their firearm licenses and License to Own and Possess Firearms or those without documents.
On the other hand, there is the iron-hand approach which calls for strict law enforcement or Focused- Police Operation through the application and implementation of search warrants for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives.
Brig. Gen. Francisco said that from August 15, 2022 to last February 28, the implementation of their Tokhang Panagbalay has led to the recovery of 1,616 loose firearms with the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Police Office or NOCPPO accounting for the biggest number of illegal guns with 524 followe by the Iloilo PPO with 436 and the Antique PPO with 199.
The official said that on the other hand, the Iloilo PPO scored the biggest number of firearms confiscated/captured/recovered during police operations with 53 followed by the NOCPPO with 43 and the Capiz PPO coming in 3rd spot with 13.
Brig. Gen. Francisco commended the Iloilo PPO headed by Colonel Noel C. Aliño for their strategic initiatives and approaches to account for more illegal firearms in the province thru their Project ‘Siga-Bong.’
He also lauded the NOCPPO under Col. Leo B. Pamittan for launching their own Project ‘Armas Baylo Bugas’ or ‘gun for rice’ program which has been seen as a big factor in convincing local residents in possession of unlicensed firearms and other deadly weapons to surrender them to the police force and get rice for their families.
“The intensified campaign against loose firearms is instrumental in the significant decrease of crime incidents, particularly murder, homicide, physical injuries, and threats attributed to the use of firearms, and has improved the peace and order situation in Western Visayas,” said Brig. Gen. Francisco.
“Let us continue to account the remaining loose firearms to ensure the safety of the community. We also appeal to the gun owners to give time to renew their firearms licenses and to those who have undocumented firearms, please surrender/deposit it to the nearest police station to avoid sanctions or even criminal liabilities.,” the official said.
