CCPO recovers 25 more guns

CEBU, Philippines — At least 25 loose firearms were confiscated by the Cebu City Mobile Force Company (CCMFC) of Cebu City Police office (CCPO), in line with its intensified campaign around the city.

In a press briefing conducted Thursday morning, CCMFC Chief Randy Korret presented the 25 assorted firearms that they were able to recover in three days.

"May rifle, merong improvised shotgun, may submachine gun, .45 caliber, 38 at 357," Korret said.

He added that their operation started last Tuesday and ended yesterday, as a result of the validation that they have conducted last Monday.

Korret had mentioned that their investigation and monitoring indicate that the presence of loose firearms were mostly rampant in the mountainous areas.

However, in their most recent operations, their target areas have changed to the more populated areas like in Guadalupe.

"Pababa na kami pero actually itong mga armas kaso hinihiram yan galing sa baba, tapos binabalik sa bukid kaya doon kami naka-concentrate," Korret added.

"Beforehand kasi, meron naman kaming mga community engagement. Yon yung sinasabi namin kasi kung meron silang mga armas na unlicensed i-surrender nalang, may mga expired na din na supposed to be pero walang nag susurrender na expired siguro naubos na," Korret said.

Korret said they still have to recover about 20,000 loose firearms, based on the information they got.

They still have to validate this information though.

"Sana kasi mag-volunteer na lang sa lahat ng station ng Cebu City, dalhin na lang at i-surrender or itawag nila kung natatakot or mag transport. Meron tayong programa dyan ‘Kontra Boga.’  Matagal ng program yan, hindi lang nabibigyan ng focus kasi," he added.

Korret added that there are still investigating if the seized firearms were used in crimes prior to their operations.

"Ang nakikita ko kasi kaya nila sinusurender, number 1 naghigpit si President Duterte.  Ang hirap bumili ng bala ngayon sa gun store pag wala kang license.  So, hindi na sila nakakabili ng bala ng basta-basta," he said.

This has been the 18th operation of the unit against loose firearms that yielded at least 400 pieces, according to its latest count.  GAN (FREEMAN)