A TOTAL of 11,734 individuals in Bacolod City possess unlicensed firearms, police records show.
The figures are based on the records of the Firearms Explosives Security Agency and Guard Supervision Section (Fesags) of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Records also showed there are 3,725 juridical firearms without licenses in Negros Occidental. These include those possessed by security agencies for security guards and other corporations.
Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, public information officer of BCPO, said on Wednesday these individuals failed to process the renewal of their firearms licenses.
The renewal of firearms licenses should be done every three years.
Vargas said they are targeting these individuals to make the necessary compliance in renewing their licenses to also help the police in their campaign against unlicensed and loose firearms.
Last Monday, the BCPO launched “Oplan Kontra Boga” to urge the public to surrender their illegal firearms or report those individuals who have the same possession.
The city police force believes such can lessen various crimes, particularly akyat-bahay and hold-up incidents perpetrated by armed men.
The public can give information through hotline (0907)2780-149. Their identities will be withheld if necessary.
Vargas had also said the police will visit the houses of those who were reported to have possessed illegal firearms.
They will be asked to surrender these and no charges will be filed against them, she added.