17 Antique village chiefs turn over 20 loose firearms

By Jennifer P. Rendon

ILOILO CITY — Seventeen barangay captains in Valderrama, Antique, joined police efforts to curb the proliferation of loose firearms by persuading residents to voluntarily surrender unlicensed guns.

The village officials turned over 20 loose firearms and six rounds of ammunition during a ceremony on the afternoon of Aug. 14 at Villa Valderrama Mountain Resort in Barangay Binanogan, Valderrama.

The surrendered firearms consisted of eight homemade long-barreled bolt-action shotguns, 10 .38-caliber revolvers, and two .22 Magnum revolvers.

The turnover coincided with a visit by Antique Police Provincial Office chief Col. Ryan Devaras for the provincial police program “Istoryahi Si PD.”

Devaras said the surrender of the unlicensed firearms, most of which were homemade guns, resulted from intensified police-community engagement efforts by the Valderrama Municipal Police Station.

The initiative also aligned with Devaras’ “Istoryahi Si PD” program, which aims to encourage community participation in crime prevention efforts.

The program also provides a venue for the Antique police to hear concerns from residents.

During the turnover ceremony, the Valderrama Municipal Police Station also presented its accomplishments in implementing community-based initiatives to address the proliferation of loose firearms.

The surrendered firearms were placed under the custody of the Valderrama Municipal Police Station and will later be transferred to the Antique Police Provincial Office for safekeeping.