Top cop orders crackdown on loose firearms in Arayat

ARAYAT -- Provincial Police Director Edgardo Tinio, before relinquishing his office, ordered this town’s chief of police to spearhead an aggressive drive to recover loose firearms here.

This came as shooting incidents involving barangay chairmen were reportedly increasing as the local election nears.

Tinio said he already talked to Mayor Luis Espino during a Pampanga Mayors’ League meeting held at the City of San Fernando about the alleged breach of peace by some lawless groups victimizing barangay officials and civilians in the locality.

“Nagkausap na kami ni Mayor Espino dahil dalawang kapitan na ang namamatay dito at ang marching order natin sa hepe ng kapulisan sa Arayat ay crackdown sa mga loose firearms,” he added.

Earlier, unidentified armed men shot dead San Agustin village chief Joel Puyat in an elementary school here.

Political observers here who requested not to be named said the recent shooting incidents are poll-related violence connected to next year’s elections.

Meanwhile, in the first quarter of this year, the Police Regional Office 3 launched “Oplan Paglalansag Omega,” a campaign against private armies and loose firearms.

This resulted in the confiscation of six assorted loose firearms with several ammunitions in a series of operations in the provinces of Aurora, Pampanga and Tarlac, as well as Angeles City.