The chief of police of Sibulan town has asked firearm holders to surrender their firearms that are unregistered, unlicensed, or illegal to avoid being charged in court.
Major Luis Ramos sounded the call Thursday following the launching of “Oplan Katok”, this time in collaboration with the local government unit (LGU) headed by Mayor Jose Pepe Abiera.
According to Ramos, “Oplan Katok” is an ongoing campaign of the PNP to allow firearm holders to avoid court proceedings by voluntarily turning over for safekeeping their guns which licenses may have already expired or without the proper license.
He expressed gratitude that the Sibulan LGU through Mayor Abiera is now actively helping them in this campaign.
During the launching in Sibulan, Mayor Abiera clarified that the LGU will be cooperating with the town police by disseminating information about the police operations against illegal firearms and by helping facilitate the surrender of these items.
He commended the town police for their efforts to go on a house-to-house campaign to encourage firearms holders to voluntarily surrender their guns for proper disposition.
In an interview, Mayor Abiera stressed that the campaign “hopefully would show that we are very sincere in trying to uphold the tenets of having an honest, orderly, and peaceful elections.”
The mayor clarified that this is not just a one-time activity for the elections but a year-round drive of the PNP, which is one of the programs to allow firearms holders to renew their licenses without being subjected to a search warrant.
There is more emphasis though during the election period to ensure that there will be no untoward incident with the use of firearms, the mayor said.
“Oplan Katok” is a better alternative for those who possess firearms based on the PNP’s list but whose licenses have expired to turn these over to the police for safekeeping pending registration or renewal of license of the same, Ramos added.
Those who do not heed the advice of the PNP through “Oplan Katok” could be the subjects of a search warrant as mandated by higher headquarters.
A total of 30 firearms of different caliber, make, and model that were surrendered/confiscated in recent months due to an expired license and license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) were presented during the launching.
These will be turned over to the regional office of the PNP’s Firearms, Explosives, Security Agencies and Guards Supervisory Section for safekeeping, Ramos said.
Owners may claim their firearms after they have secured or renewed their licenses, he added.
Ramos assured they will continue their operations against loose, unlicensed, and illegal firearms even after the elections.
So far, they have not filed an application for a court search warrant as they would like to give Sibulan residents more time to avail of “Oplan Katok” instead, he said. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
