THE POLICE Regional Office 11 (Davao) has arrested 200 individuals for violating the gun ban and neutralized 25 persons in the first six months of the year.
From Jan. 13 to June 12, which covered the election period, PRO-11 arrested the 200 persons during the conduct of 11 police operations to implement search warrants, checkpoint operations, warrants of arrest, and illegal drugs buy-bust operations.
PRO-11 director, Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales said the figure includes 172 civilians, five security guards, four police personnel, three government officials, two military personnel, one CAFGU, and 13 individuals who were members of threat groups.
Morales said the various operations also resulted in the confiscation of 128 small firearms, 65 improvised firearms, 68 other deadly weapons (bladed weapons, grenade, explosives) and 1,749 pieces of ammunition from Jan. 13 to June 12, 2019.
Morales noted that one election-related violence occurred since the election period began.
This happened on April 7 involving Rogelio Manglicmot Serrano Jr., brother of the town mayor and a former liaison officer of LGU New Corella, who was shot dead by unidentified assailants.
Morales also cited the arrest of municipal councilor Levy Jo Lumando during this period in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs involving politicians.Lumando was arrested in Barangay Del Pilar, Manay, Davao Oriental.
Authorities confiscated from him several sachets of suspected shabu, rifle grenade, one hand grenade, one Taurus PT 45 PRO caliber ACP, short magazines, and live ammunition.
The 25 persons, meanwhile, were neutralized during police operations after they opted to fight the operating teams.
In the same period, Morales also cited the accomplishment in the implementation of “Oplan Kontra Boga and Oplan Katok” operations to rid the area of illegal firearms and instruments of crime.
A total of 1,314 firearms and ammunition were surrendered/deposited for safekeeping to their nearest police stations.
Oplan Katok is a door-to-door visit of police personnel to the known addresses of firearm holders who have not yet renewed their firearm licenses and registration.
“These individuals failed to process the renewal of their firearms licenses, which should be done every three years, so they opted to deposit it or else we will apply for a search warrant against them,” Morales said.
Meanwhile, Morales assured that all police campaigns such as “Oplan Tokhang,” “Oplan Bakal,” “Oplan Katok,” and checkpoint operations will be sustained as part of the PNP’s anti-criminality campaign because of its proven effectiveness in preempting illegal activities and taking away instruments of crime and violence.(By Rhoda Grace Saron)
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