Month-long drive vs. loose firearms nets 311 weapons in Soccsksargen

COTABATO CITY – Three hundred eleven assorted weapons were recovered and 27 individuals were arrested in the campaign against unlicensed firearms in the Soccsksargen region (Region 12) in October, police said Monday.

“The intensified operations aim to prevent loose firearms from falling into the hands of criminal elements across the region,” Brig. Gen. Alan Manibog, Police Regional Office-12 (PRO-12), director, said.

He said the operations resulted in the recovery, confiscation, surrender, deposit, abandonment, or forfeiture of 311 firearms, one explosive device, and 803 rounds of ammunition.

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The 311 firearms recovered consisted of 299 small arms and 12 light weapons. Manibog said.

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He said all the 311 firearms were confiscated under the “Bilang Boga operations,” “101 Oplan Katok” activities, implementations of search warrants, police responses to crime, implementations of warrants of arrest, checkpoints operation, “Oplan Bakal Sita,” buy-bust, and internal security operations.

The North Cotabato Police Provincial Office (PPO) recorded the most number of firearms recovered, with 91 consisting of 88 small arms and three light weapons followed by South Cotabato PPO with 72 firearms.

Sultan Kudarat PPO recovered 64 firearms while the Sarangani PPO recovered 52 firearms and 10 rounds of ammunition.

The General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO) recovered 32 small firearms and 50 rounds of ammunition.

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“We will continue to intensify our campaign against loose firearms and illegal weapons through sustained operations, community engagement, and strict enforcement of the law,” Manibog said in a statement.

“We also urge the public to cooperate with our police personnel to prevent the use of firearms and explosives in criminal activities and ensure the safety and security of our communities,” he added. /gsg