(File photo)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it has confiscated more than 10,000 loose firearms across the country from January 1 to May 7 this year.
In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the campaign aims to curb the proliferation of loose firearms that pose a threat to public safety and security.
During these period, intensified operations resulted in the arrest of 3,208 individuals and the recovery, surrender, or confiscation of 10,214 firearms in violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
“Accounting of loose firearms and arrest of wanted persons are the centerpiece actions of the anti-criminality campaign that the PNP is waging. Firearms as instruments of crime and the players that put into action the criminal motive are the factors that largely contribute to the commission of a crime. If we can take away these instruments of crime and the persons behind it, then we have effectively prevented crime,” Acorda said.
He added the PNP's efforts to secure the public from the dangers of loose firearms have also resulted in 5,608 firearms being turned in for safekeeping by responsible owners.
Moreover, the PNP has filed 1,582 cases in court against violators of the law, ensuring that justice will be served to those who have put the lives of the public at risk through the use of loose firearms.
"Our campaign against loose firearms is a continuous effort to ensure the safety and security of our people. These accomplishments are the result of the hard work and dedication of our police officers and the cooperation of the public. We will continue to intensify our efforts to eradicate the proliferation of loose firearms in our communities. I urge everyone to support our campaign and report any illegal firearms to the authorities," Acorda said.
“To complement this campaign against loose firearms, the PNP is further improving administrative procedures to encourage and promote effective gun control thru licensing and firearms registration,” he added.
He said the successful accomplishment of this task demonstrates the PNP's unwavering commitment to upholding the law and fulfilling our duty to maintain peace and order in the country,
The PNP also called on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities with the presence of firearms and support the organization's campaign to keep the communities safe and secure.
Meanwhile, the PNP also announced a significant decrease in index crime incidents over the past 120 days.
Index crime volume dropped to 11.78 percent, from 13,535 in January to April 2022 to only 11,940 over the same period in 2023, while the average monthly index crime rate decreased by 11.63 percent, from 3.01 in 2022 to 2.66 in 2023.
“Through the consistent implementation of various strategies, such as intensified police visibility, intelligence-driven operations, community-based programs, strengthened partnerships with other agencies, and improved crime reporting and monitoring systems, we have achieved a noteworthy decrease in index crime incidents over the past 120 days," Acorda said. (PNA)
