Pampanga ranks 4th with most registered guns

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - A ranking official from the police provincial office of Pampanga said the province ranks fourth in the country with the most number of registered firearms.

Superintendent R'win Pagkalinawan, police provincial director, said this is another factor that led to the inclusion of Pampanga in the list of high risk areas relating to the upcoming 2013 midterm elections.

"Ang Pampanga ay number four nationwide sa may pinakamaraming registered na baril. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit napabilang ang probinsiya sa mga binabantayan ngayon ng Comelec (Commission on Elections) at ng police," Pagkalinawan said, adding that this development resulted to the establishment of Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG) in December last year.

The RSOTG conducts operations under the instruction of the Comelec in coordination with the local police.

"Ang pinakamataas na insidente ng krimen dito sa Pampanga ay noong 2010 kung saan mayroon tayong 500 insidente ng krimen kada buwan. Ang pinakamababa naman ay noong buwan ng Disyembre 2012 na may 150 insidente lamang," the police chief said.

Pagkalinawan added that the conduct of regular checkpoints by the ROSTG in all the municipalities had resulted to a lesser crime rate.

Different crime groups are prevented from committing illegal activities due to the presence of police authorities in public places, he said.

He also encouraged residents to cooperate with the ROSTG and local police by providing information that in any way might affect the conduct of honest and peaceful elections.

"Ang hotline po natin ay 0927-205-9354. Mag text lang kayo dyan kapag mayroong mga kahina hinalang tao dyan sa inyong mga barangay," the police director said.