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Thursday, September 23, 2004
Police told to intensify drive vs loose firearms
CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad -- All police officers and personnel in the Cordillera have been directed to intensify the campaign against the proliferation of private armies, criminal gangs and extremist groups operating in the region.
Chief Supt. Rowland Albano, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera, said he has set up a reward system to benefit concerned citizens who may give any positive information that would lead to the confiscation of firearms and the filing of cases in court against anyone caught in possession of illegal firearms.
He said the establishment of this reward system has led to the confiscation or surrender of an estimated 150 loose firearms to officers and personnel of the PRO-Cordillera starting this year.
Albano added that he already instructed all provincial and city police directors to direct their men in the field not to hesitate in arresting anyone who may be found to be in illegal possession of firearms, regardless of who they are.
This recent directive, he said, reiterates his previous mandate on the intensification of operations against loose or unlicensed guns, especially those belonging to suspected members of private armies, criminal gangs and extremist groups.
Of the 150 loose firearms taken in during their intensified campaign, at least 22 of them were confiscated from suspected partisan armed group (PAG) members, 13 seized through warranted searches, six were sequestered from security guards, six recovered from PNP members, two were confiscated from alleged members of the Cordillera People's Liberation Army, two taken from barangay officials, one from a Bureau of Jail Management & Penology personnel and one from a barangay police.
The police also arrested four alleged PAG members and confiscated three baby armalite rifles, one infant armalite rifle, two caliber .38 revolvers, and magazines and ammunitions for an M16 rifle and a caliber .38 revolver in Abra.
A total of 13 PAG members reportedly under the payroll of Abra politicians were also arrested, leading to the confiscation of several high-powered firearms.
These same suspects are now charged in court.
It may be recalled in several earlier reports that Abra has been regarded as a 'hot spot' during many previous elections, due to the presence of armed groups, most of whom are employed by politicians. (Ernie Olson Jr.)
(September 23, 2004 issue)
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