195 persons nabbed for violating firearm law in Jan-April 2022

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 in its intensified campaign against loose firearms in Western Visayas arrested 195 persons for allegedly violating the firearm law from January to April 2022.

Negros Occidental accounted for the most number of arrests with 67 followed by Iloilo (38), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Regional Field Unit 6 (27), Antique (15), Capiz (13), Bacolod City (11), Aklan (10), and Iloilo City and Guimaras with 7 each.

A total of 993 loose firearms were confiscated, recovered, and surrendered in the first four months of the year.

172 guns were confiscated, 809 were surrendered and 12 were recovered/abandoned.

For firearms with expired license, a total of 316 guns of various calibers were turned over to different police units across the region pending renewal of their license.

Brigadier General Flynn E Dongbo, PRO-6 director, commended all unit commanders and their personnel in the region for their focused effort in the implementation of the firearm law.

“Let’s continue and intensify our endeavors against loose firearms like but not limited to checkpoint operations, Oplan Katok, application of Search Warrants, and among others,” Dongbo added.

Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act was signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III on May 29, 2013.