SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique -- The Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) has intensified its campaign against loose firearms, as well as those with expired licenses, as it cascades "TokHang Kontra Guinadilian nga Pusil” in the 18 municipalities of the province.
APPO provincial director Senior Supt. Leo Irwin Agpangan on Monday said their new campaign against loose firearms, which was launched region-wide at the Police Regional Office 6 last week, is a pro-active measure against criminality - particularly addressing the proliferation of loose firearms.
Agpangan, who also showed to media confiscated firearms as well those deposited firearms, said they are seeking the support of the media to help them inform the community about this new program.
“The people in Antique usually easily cooperate with the police in terms of our programs,” he said.
He said the deposited firearms at the APPO are those owned by the people who are still waiting for the approval of their License to Own and Possess Firearms.
Based on APPO's accomplishment report, from January to June this year, there are now 20 firearms that were confiscated because of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions; 30 firearms yielded through Oplan Katok; while 33 loose firearms seized before the implementation of the new program remain in their custody.
There is one firearm that was used in a crime, the report added.
With the program, the APPO personnel are directed to conduct a house-to-house visit to residents, whom they suspect possess loose firearms to surrender them to authorities, and encourage those with expired licenses to apply for renewal.
The APPO, which targets 3,138 unregistered firearms in the province for the program, is expected to account for all loose firearms in the province by the end of August. (PNA)
