The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it has confiscated some 8,000 loose firearms across the country over the past three months in an unrelenting drive against criminality.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., in a statement, said the seizures of unlicensed firearms were made through checkpoints and anti-drug operations nationwide, conducted from July to October 8 this year.
Azurin said the PNP also seized anti-prohibited drugs worth P9.7 billion and arrested 22,646 drug suspects in an intensified campaign since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office last July.
He said the operations also resulted in the arrest of 2,471 people who are currently facing charges of violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
PNP records showed a total of 8,255 loose firearms were either recovered, surrendered, or confiscated, with additional 4,895 guns of various calibers voluntarily turned in for police safekeeping.
Azurin directed all police officers nationwide to sustain their campaign against loose firearms and lawless elements.
“I have directed all police officers around the country to sustain their campaign against loose firearms and other lawless elements of society to keep the streets safe from criminals, especially this holiday season. One firearm confiscated can be equated to a minimum of one life saved,” he said.
Forty-six suspects were killed during these operations, Azurin said.
The police chief bared that the PNP has partnered with the religious sector in an attempt to peacefully bring down the drugs incidents at the community level.
Azurin also acknowledged the President’s full support for the PNP’s “more focused holistic approach” to stop illegal drugs and criminality, which signifies the government’s commi ment to put in place mechanisms to improve the country’s peace and order situation.
According to Azurin, the entire PNP remains steadfast in the implementation of the anti-illegal drugs programs of the government aimed at ensuring that Filipinos everywhere can “enjoy a peaceful society and embrace a greater sense of security by sustaining vigilant trust and confidence in law enforcers.”
In an interview last month, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) spokesman Derrick Carreon said the Philippines is now in a “good situation” in terms of comba ing the illegal drug menace as more areas in the country are now drug cleared as the government implements a holistic approach.
Out of the 42,046 barangays in the country, the police have declared 26,093 barangays as “drug-free” and 9,414 others as “drug-affected.”
PDEA’s approach includes carrying out key strategies such as demand reduction, rehabilitation, and reintegration, Carreon said.
The anti-drug agency also continues to go after big-time targets and syndicates in compliance with the directive of President Marcos, he added.
