By TARA YAP
LOILO CITY – Police seized 2,428 firearms and explosives in Western Visayas in the first six months of the year.
The Police Regional Office-5 said 2,112 guns and 316 explosives were confiscated from January 1 to June 30.
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Police Gen. Rommel Marbil (center) inspects confiscated illegal firearms in Western Visayas. With him are Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky (left), head of PRO-6, and Col. Gilbert Gorero. (PNP/PRO-6)
“These will prevent the occurrence of crimes using firearms,” said PRO-6 Director Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky in a statement.
Their seizure was part of the Tokhang Kontra Armas Luthang (TKAL) campaign against loose firearms in the region.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) confiscated the most number of firearms and explosives with 653.
Second was the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) with 367; 259 by the Antique Police Provincial Office (AntPPO), 236 by the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB-6), 208 by the Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO), 205 by the Aklan Police Provincial Office (AkPPO), 92 by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), 60 by the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), and 32 by the Guimaras Police Provincial Office (GPPO).
Police arrested 358 individuals for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.