BACOLOD CITY -- Police units in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, have launched separate intensified campaigns against loose firearms across the province.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCCPO) through the "Oplan Katok" yielded several unlicensed firearms and ammunition over the weekend, including those surrendered to the Calatrava Municipal Police Station in the northern part of the province.
Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., director of NOCPPO, said in a press statement they will coordinate closely with the local government units in carrying out Oplan Katok.
This involves a “door-to-door” visit to gun owners who have not renewed their firearms license and registration.
He urged Negrenses to support the campaign by surrendering, monitoring, and reporting incidents involving illegal use of firearms and ammunition.
Castil added that chiefs of police of the cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental will assist gun owners who want to surrender, deposit, or turn over their firearms to the Philippine National Police while their licenses are still being processed.
For its part, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) also launched the "Oplan Kontra Boga", a campaign that started last week against unlicensed firearms usually used in crimes especially robberies.
Based on the latest data released by the BCPO Firearms Explosives Security Agency and Guard Supervision Section, there are 11,734 individuals in Bacolod who possess unlicensed firearms.
In Negros Occidental, there are 3,725 juridical firearms without licenses.
The gun owners failed to process the renewal of their firearms licenses required every three years. (PNA)
