BALANGA CITY- The Bataan Police Provincial Office announced the other day that there are about 3,943 loose firearms in the province that it wanted to account for until October 31, 2009.
Senior Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, Bataan police director, said of the estimated number 2,383 are either unregistered or with unrenewed licenses, 97 from the communist groups, wanted persons and criminal gangs and the rest from other sources.
He said that the intensified campaign is under the Philippine National Police “Bilang Boga” and “Kontra Boga” program for the accounting, inventory, registration and recording of firearms with expired licenses, unregistered firearms with the general population, law enforcement units, local government units, other government agencies and those in the hands of criminal elements.
Gaerlan also presented 45 firearms of various calibers that the Bataan police would turn-over to the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Unit.
He explained that of the 45 guns, 23 were turned over two weeks ago by the courts after the cases were either dismissed or given appropriate decisions. The rest were confiscated during police operations.
“Ang mga baril na ito ay ipatutunaw ng PNP at ang bakal na makukuha ay gagamitin sa ibang productive use,” the police director said, “May pag-aaral ding ginagawa ang PNP sa legalidad o kung may posibilidad bang magamit ng mga police officers na kulang sa baril ang matitino pang mga armas pero hindi pa ito kumpirmado,” he added.
Among those presented were 12-gauge shotguns, caliber .22 shotguns, caliber .38 and .45 revolvers, 9 mm revolver, homemade and Danao-made guns and World-War II vintage guns like Thompson submachine guns and carbines.
Gaerlan called on all firearm holders to avail temselves of the amnesty until October 31, 2009. “We will conduct massive police operations including house-to-house campaign on unrenewed/unlicensed firearms after the deadline of the amnesty,” the police officer said.
On those who no longer want to hold their guns, Gaerlan said that they can turn over the firearms to the Bataan police office at Camp Tolentino. On lost firearms, an affidavit of loss and a police report should be submitted.
Senior Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, Bataan police director, said of the estimated number 2,383 are either unregistered or with unrenewed licenses, 97 from the communist groups, wanted persons and criminal gangs and the rest from other sources.
He said that the intensified campaign is under the Philippine National Police “Bilang Boga” and “Kontra Boga” program for the accounting, inventory, registration and recording of firearms with expired licenses, unregistered firearms with the general population, law enforcement units, local government units, other government agencies and those in the hands of criminal elements.
Gaerlan also presented 45 firearms of various calibers that the Bataan police would turn-over to the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Unit.
He explained that of the 45 guns, 23 were turned over two weeks ago by the courts after the cases were either dismissed or given appropriate decisions. The rest were confiscated during police operations.
“Ang mga baril na ito ay ipatutunaw ng PNP at ang bakal na makukuha ay gagamitin sa ibang productive use,” the police director said, “May pag-aaral ding ginagawa ang PNP sa legalidad o kung may posibilidad bang magamit ng mga police officers na kulang sa baril ang matitino pang mga armas pero hindi pa ito kumpirmado,” he added.
Among those presented were 12-gauge shotguns, caliber .22 shotguns, caliber .38 and .45 revolvers, 9 mm revolver, homemade and Danao-made guns and World-War II vintage guns like Thompson submachine guns and carbines.
Gaerlan called on all firearm holders to avail temselves of the amnesty until October 31, 2009. “We will conduct massive police operations including house-to-house campaign on unrenewed/unlicensed firearms after the deadline of the amnesty,” the police officer said.
On those who no longer want to hold their guns, Gaerlan said that they can turn over the firearms to the Bataan police office at Camp Tolentino. On lost firearms, an affidavit of loss and a police report should be submitted.
