A TOTAL of 283 firearms with expired licenses were surrendered to different police stations in Negros Occidental from July 24 to August 13.
Senior Inspector Aireen Cordua, public information officer of Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (Nocppo), said on Wednesday, that police stations in cities of Cadiz, Sipalay, Bago, Kabankalan, Silay, and Sagay, and the municipality of Hinigaran topped all police stations with the highest number of surrendered firearms.
Turned over firearms in Hinigaran reached 35; Cadiz, 30; Sipalay, 22; Bago, 17; Kabankalan and Silay, 11 each; and Sagay, 10.
Aside from the number of surrendered unrenewed firearms, 11 homemade or improvised firearms were also turned over to the police.
Two loose firearms were confiscated from police operations, covering the same period.
Cordua said homemade and confiscated loose firearms will not be returned to gun holders. It will now be under the custody of police for safekeeping.
Cordua said shooting incidents somehow lessen since Police Regional Office-Western Visayas launched the "Oplan Tokhang Kontra Ginadumili-an nga Pusil" in Western Visayas last month.
The said Tokhang against loose firearms was launched following violent and deadly incidents using firearms in the region.
Cordua said Nocppo continues to conduct house visitation to encourage gun holders with expired licenses to surrender their guns as they process the renewal of their licenses.
Gunholders who refused to follow the law will be subjected for search warrant or raid and will be facing a criminal case.