The Philippine National Police in Negros Oriental has stepped up its campaign against loose firearms following shooting incidents where the guns used were undocumented.
Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, told the media on Tuesday that as of April 22, a total of 10 shooting incidents were reported since January this year.
Of the number, eight cases have already been filed against the suspects, while two others are still under investigation, he said.
“We are calling on the community to report to authorities persons who may possess guns that are unregistered while we continue with our monitoring of loose firearms and the strengthening of checkpoints,” he added.
NOPPO records show that from Jan. 1 to April 20 this year, the NOPPO conducted a total of 341 operations against loose firearms with 355 units confiscated.
For the same period, 52 Oplan Katok operations were conducted with 64 firearms deposited with the police for safekeeping.
Loose firearms refer to those that are unregistered and undocumented, while the ones recovered during Oplan Katok operations are firearms whose licenses have expired and are awaiting renewal, Polinar said.
He added loose firearms find their way to Negros Oriental from various places like Cebu, Mindanao, and even Manila, but it was difficult to establish the sources.
Meanwhile, the NOPPO spokesperson said that of the 10 shooting incidents reported, not one of them is related to the May 12 elections.
However, a recent strafing incident at the house of a city councilor is still being investigated to determine the motive.
Polinar said that based on PNP parameters on election-related violent incidents, the Tanjay strafing may not be considered as one but the Commission on Elections will have the final say.
During election period, the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other uniformed services organizations are deputized by and under operational control of the Comelec. (Judy F. Partlow)
