PRO-6 processes 18,306 firearm notices in Western Visayas

ILOILO CITY – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has intensified its campaign to promote responsible firearm ownership in Western Visayas, processing 18,306 notices involving firearms with expired registrations under Project TALA.

Latest reports showed that police offices across the region have achieved a 68% accomplishment rate in the campaign.

Of the 27,114 firearms with expired or unrenewed registrations in the regional monitoring database, police have processed notices covering 18,306 records.

Three provinces in Western Visayas have achieved 100% completion of their assigned notice-processing targets under Project TALA, or Tracking, Accounting and Lawful Disposition of Firearms with Expired Registration.

The Aklan Police Provincial Office (AkPPO) became the latest to complete its target, following the Guimaras and Antique police provincial offices.

Aklan PPO processed all 2,378 notices assigned to it, marking another milestone in PRO-6’s efforts to account for firearms with expired registrations and promote responsible firearm ownership.

Guimaras was the first province to achieve full accomplishment after processing 718 notices, followed by Antique with 1,811 and Aklan with 2,378.

Project TALA aims to account for firearms with expired registrations, encourage owners to comply with existing firearms regulations and ensure appropriate action is taken on firearms that are no longer eligible for renewal or have been sold, lost, surrendered or otherwise disposed of.

Of the 2,378 notices processed in Aklan, 1,962 were successfully received, 12 were refused, and 404 could not be delivered because the intended recipients could not be located.

The figures indicate that completing a notice-processing target does not necessarily mean every firearm owner has been contacted or that every firearm has been physically accounted for.

The results also underscore the importance of continued coordination and proper documentation in determining the status of firearms covered by the initiative.

Meanwhile, the Capiz and Iloilo police provincial offices have each reached approximately 67% of their respective targets.

Capiz PPO has processed 3,218 notices out of its 4,794-record baseline, while Iloilo PPO has processed 7,030 out of 10,534.

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has reached 46% of its target, processing notices involving 3,151 of the 6,879 firearm records under its jurisdiction.

PRO-6 Director Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño commended Aklan police personnel for completing their assigned target and recognized their efforts to promote responsible firearm ownership.

“Completing the target is an important milestone, but the bigger achievement is making sure that firearm owners are reached and that the status of these firearms is properly established. This is about accountability, accurate records, and helping people understand their responsibilities under the law,” he said.

Project TALA operates under the Philippine National Police’s nationwide Accounting and Disposition of Firearms with Expired Registration (ADFER) campaign.

The initiative seeks to locate firearm owners, verify the status of firearms with expired registrations and facilitate compliance with existing firearms laws.

Under Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, as amended by Republic Act 11766, firearm owners may renew their licenses and firearm registrations for five or 10 years, depending on their chosen validity period.

Failure to renew a firearm registration within the prescribed period may result in revocation, with the firearm subject to confiscation or forfeiture after due process.

PRO-6 reminded firearm owners to regularly check the validity of their firearm registrations and coordinate with authorized PNP offices for renewal or other appropriate procedures.

Those who have sold, lost, surrendered or otherwise disposed of their firearms were also encouraged to report these changes to ensure that official records are properly updated.

The public was urged to cooperate with police personnel implementing the initiative, provide accurate information and address registration concerns through proper legal channels.

Police emphasized that responsible firearm ownership and compliance with firearms regulations are essential to preventing the misuse of firearms and promoting safer communities.