Nine Janiuay barangay captains surrender unlicensed firearms

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Nine barangay captains from Janiuay, Iloilo, have heeded the call of the local police to voluntarily surrender their unlicensed firearms.

The village officials formally turned in their firearms during a “Unity of Peace” ceremony held at the Janiuay Municipal Police Station on Saturday, Oct. 25.

Those who surrendered were barangay captains Jimmy Lorca, who turned over a homemade 12-gauge shotgun barrel bolt action; Roland Bandada, who surrendered a homemade 12-gauge shotgun medium barrel bolt-action with magazine; Uldatico Lim Jr., who surrendered a 12-gauge shotgun bolt action long barrel and a homemade caliber .45 break-type; and Richard Esteva, who turned over a homemade 12-gauge pistol break-type shotgun and a caliber 9mm pistol break-type;

Anecito Banquillo surrendered a caliber .22 revolver without serial number; Arum Sarmiento who turned in a 12-gauge pistol break-type firearm; Nilo Carman surrendered a caliber .38 revolver without serial number; Maria Nova Caumban turned over a homemade 12-gauge pistol break-type; and William Amador surrendered a homemade caliber 9mm break-type firearm.

Two civilians also surrendered firearms and explosives.

Alias Merilyn turned in five rifle grenades, while alias Gilbert surrendered an M26 grenade and a homemade 12-gauge pistol break-type.

Captain Marlon Perez, Janiuay police chief, said the initiative was part of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) and Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) program to curb the proliferation of loose firearms through the Tokhang Kontra Armas Luthang or TKAL campaign.

Launched in November 2019, TKAL—previously known as Tokhang Kontra Guinadili-an nga Pusil (TKGP)—aims to account for loose firearms and those with expired licenses.

Perez said he spent several weeks coordinating with village officials from Janiuay’s 60 barangays to seek their help in the campaign against illegal firearms.

“Sila na lang din ang kakausap sa mga constituents,” he said.

Perez added that he expects more village officials and residents to surrender their unlicensed firearms and explosives in the coming weeks.