PROGRESS. Abra logs the most number of voluntarily surrendered loose firearms in the Cordillera Administrative Region in 2023, with 371 out of the total 1,106. Police Regional Office-Cordillera director Brig. Gen. David Peredo said Tuesday (Jan. 9, 2024) their hopes are high for the continued improvement of the peace and order situation in the province. (PNA file photo by Liza T. Agoot)
BAGUIO CITY – Abra posted the highest number of voluntarily surrendered loose firearms in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) in 2023.
Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PROCor) data showed that 371 loose firearms were surrendered directly to the police or coursed through village or municipal officials in Abra last year, or about 33.5 percent of the 1,106 assorted unlicensed or unregistered firearms received by authorities.
Under Oplan Katok (knocking), the police’s house-to-house verification among firearm holders who have not renewed their licenses, Benguet registered the second highest number of surrendered firearms at 160.
Kalinga followed with 145; Mountain Province had 138; Baguio City Police Office, 136; Ifugao, 131; and Apayao, 120.
There were also 67 firearms which were confiscated, and 28 firearms recovered during various police operations in CAR.
“We are confident that Abra is on the way to progress especially with the people helping in the peace and order campaign and their desire to change the image of their province to a peaceful province,” PROCor director Brig. Gen. David Peredo told the Philippine News Agency.
Col. Carolina Lacuata, PROCor information office chief, defined loose firearms as those that are unregistered, altered, lost, stolen or illegally manufactured.
The classification includes registered firearms held by unauthorized individuals or those whose licenses have been revoked based on regulations or have not been renewed. (PNA)
