CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Police Regional Office 3 Director Brig. Gen. Jose S. Hidalgo Jr. on Monday (June 3) reported the confiscation of nearly 500 loose firearms region wide for the past four months and took away these instruments of violence from the hands of criminals before they could use them.
Hidalgo said that the seized firearms of various types and calibers were from various checkpoint operations, anti-drug operations and implementation of search warrants among others, in the four corners of the region from February 22 to July 2, 2023.
Also, 233 individuals were arrested and are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
He added that a total of 1033 assorted firearms were turned in to the police for safekeeping thru the intensified implementation of “Oplan Katok.”
“We are doing this as part of the Philippine National Police (PNP) efforts to intensify the campaign against loose firearms as well as to prepare for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections this October. We vow to curtail the proliferation of loose firearms in Central Luzon. I also urged gun holders to regularly update and renew their licenses,” Hidalgo furthered. (UnliNews Online)