329 loose firearms recovered since De Leon’s installment as PRO-7 chief

The Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO)  has confiscated 325 unregistered firearms from police operations and Oplan Katok from October 17, 2019 to December 17, 2019. CPPO Director, Colonel Roderick Mariano (right most) presented the haul to PRO-7 Director Brigadier General Valeriano de Leon (left) and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia (center) on Thursday, December 19, 2019. CDN Digital photo | Rosalie Abatayo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — At least 329 loose firearms have been recovered by the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) since October 17, 2019, the police reported on Thursday, December 19, 2019.

The firearms, a mix of improvised guns and guns that have expired licenses, consists of 36 rifles, 167 pistols, and 126 revolvers.

CPPO presented their haul to Central Visayas Police Regional Office (PRO-7) Regional Director Valeriano de Leon during his visit at the Camp Arcadio Maxilom on Thursday.

The haul inventory covered the time De Leon assumed his post on October 17, 2019, until last Tuesday, December 17.

“Sana wag silang mapagod and they continue to intensify their campaigns against loose firearms kasi yung crimes na involved ang loose firearms ay mataas,” De Leon said in a press briefing.

(I hope they will continue to be relentless and intensify their campaign against loose firearms because a high volume of crimes that are committed involve loose firearms.)

De Leon also commended the “peaceful” means that the CPPO used in recovering the loose firearms.

Of the 329 loose firearms, 245 were voluntarily surrendered by their owners through Oplan Katok.

Oplan Katok is a program of the Philippine National Police (PNP) where the operatives visit residences that have firearms with expired licenses to convince them to surrender their loose firearms for safekeeping until they are able to renew their license.

The remaining 84 firearms, meanwhile, were recovered in regular police operations. /bmjo