IBA, ZAMBALES — Twenty four assorted firearms were confiscated and 21 persons were arrested in the campaign against loose firearms of the Zambales Police Provincial Office (ZPPO).
This was disclosed by Senior Supt. Rolando Felix, provincial director, as part of the command’s major accomplishments for the first half of 2009.
Of the confiscated firearms, seven were high powered and 17 low powered. Two homemade shotguns and two caliber .32 revolvers were also surrendered to San Felipe and San Narciso Police Station respectively.
Felix reported that in the campaign against illegal gambling, 11 persons were arrested and three cases for violation of PD 1602 as amended by RA 9287 were filed in court.
On criminality, the ZPPO intensified its anti-crime campaign to neutralize most wanted persons (MWP) at the municipal and provincial levels that resulted to the arrest of 37 MWPs. One hundred twenty-one other wanted persons were also arrested.
In protecting the rights of children, eight minors employed as guest relations officers at videoke bars were rescued and a total of 18 cases of rape in relation to RA 7610 were filed in court.
The campaign against criminal gangs resulted to one rescue operation resulting tothe safe recovery of one kidnap victim and the arrest of three suspects. Three suspected Budol-Budol gang member were apprehended and syndicated estafa was filed against the suspects.
In anti-illegal logging, 22 persons were arrested, 8,799 board feet of sawn lumber were confiscated amounting to P175, 980 along with 844 sacks of charcoal. Three trucks and two tricycles were impounded and the suspects were charged in court for violation of PD 705 as amended by RA 330.
In their anti-illegal fishing campaign with the coordination of the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Bantay Dagat, 51 suspected vendors of dynamited fish and violators of the provincial ordinance against using cyanide and compressor were charged in court.
Felix added that in 2008, the total crime volume of 341 incidents showed an increase of 9.6% crime solution efficiency and these contributed to a generally peaceful and orderly situation in Zambales.
