EASTERN Visayas Police Director Brigadier General Bernabe Balba turned over 1,145 loose firearms and ammunition to the Regional Civil Security Unit (RCSU)-Eastern Visayas in Palo, Leyte Monday, July 27, 2020.
The firearms are either confiscated, captured, surrendered, deposited, abandoned and forfeited from the different police provincial offices in the region.
“This shows our intensified program of ‘Oplan Katok,’ which aims to prevent loose and unlicensed firearms from being used in any criminal activities,” said Balba during the ceremonial turn over at the police headquarters in Camp Ruperto Kangleon.
Leyte Police Provincial Office turned in 427 loose firearms; 159 from Biliran Police Provincial Office; 149 from Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office, and 142 from Ormoc City Police Office.
Northern Samar Police Provincial Office turned in 100 firearms; 77 from Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office; 51 from Samar Police Provincial Office and 40 from Tacloban City Police Office.
The firearms include 515 pistols, 163 revolvers, 112 shotgun and 46 rifles.
Out of 1,145,790 are firearms with expired licenses, 309 are subject for records and 46 are collected from court with cases fully adjudicated.
RCSU, headed by Major Bjon Revecho, is the authorized repository unit for all loose firearms in the region.
Meanwhile, Revecho urged gun owners with expired license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) and unrenewed firearms to renew their license to prevent criminal liability and inconvenience. (SunStar Philippines)