NINE firearms of various calibers, assorted live ammunition, and a hand grenade were seized in separate operations conducted by the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6) in Iloilo and Capiz on April 7, 2025.
Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky, director of PRO 6, commended the operating units, saying: "We sincerely recognized these tangible results in our intensive campaign against loose firearms. These were achieved through the collaborative endeavor and strengthened partnership of the police and the community."
Wanky advised individuals to contact their local police unit to deposit or surrender their loose or undocumented firearms.
The first operation was conducted around 4:20 a.m. in Barangay Binabaan Portigo, Lambunao, Iloilo, targeting alias Benito, a legal-aged farmer.
The 601st Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Western Visayas (RMFB 6) recovered one homemade shotgun with an inserted magazine, one magazine for caliber 9mm loaded with 13 live cartridges, and 12 additional live cartridges for caliber 9mm.
At 5:32 a.m., in Barangay Nagba, Cuartero, Capiz, the Cuartero Municipal Police Station recovered three firearms of different calibers and live ammunition from alias Dodoy, 55 years old.
In a follow-up operation at 8:16 a.m., also in Barangay Binaba-an Portigo, Lambunao, Iloilo, the RMFB 6 unit seized from alias Jolly one caliber .38 revolver loaded with six live cartridges, one caliber .45 pistol with a magazine loaded with five live cartridges, an additional magazine, assorted live ammunition, and a hand grenade.
At 1:40 p.m., the Dueñas police arrested alias Jessie, 66, a farmer, in Barangay Cabudian, Dueñas, Iloilo. Confiscated from him were one caliber .38 revolver, one homemade 12-gauge shotgun, live ammunition, and 18 fired cartridge cases of various calibers.
The final operation was carried out around 6 p.m. in Barangay Baclayan, New Lucena, Iloilo, where the New Lucena police arrested alias Joemar and recovered one caliber .45 pistol, one magazine, and eight live cartridges.
All suspects have been placed under police custody and will face charges for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. (Leo Solinap)