A TOTAL of 285 loose firearms with expired licenses were surrendered to different police stations in Negros Occidental from August 1 to 31 in relation to the “Tokhang Kontra Ginadumili-an nga Pusil.”

Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), presented the firearms to the members of the media during a press conference on Wednesday, September 12, at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City.

Of the total number, 105 firearms were turned over to municipal police stations while 180 others were surrendered to city police stations, based on the records of Nocppo.

For municipal police stations, 12 firearms, and one explosive were confiscated through police response while five firearms were seized from search warrant operations. A total of 17 persons were arrested.

Thirteen firearms were confiscated through police response, one abandoned firearm was recovered, and three firearms and an explosive were recovered through search warrant under city police stations. A total of 13 persons were arrested.

Police stations in Valladolid and Hinigaran topped other municipal police stations while Sagay City Police Station bested other city police stations in the campaign against loose firearms.

Castil said the firearms either came from individual owners, security agencies, and policemen.

The firearms will be returned to the rightful owners after they completed processing the renewal of their licenses, he added.

Castil is calling all gun holders to hasten the process of the renewal, or their firearms will remain at the police stations.

At present, Nocppo has recorded 11,314 firearms with expired licenses. (GYM)