Negros Occidental local government officials surrender guns

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — At least 16 mayors in 32 towns and cities in Negros Occidental have surrendered 205 loose firearms in support of the campaign of the Philippine National Police for peaceful elections in May.

Brig. Gen. John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police director, witnessed the turnover of the guns at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in this city yesterday.

The guns include AK-47 and M16 assault rifles, shotguns as well as 9mm and .45-caliber pistols.

Local government units had procured the guns for issuance to their respective civil security units.

Bulalacao admitted that some local chief executives, used the guns for their private armed groups.

He said the recovery of loose firearms would ensure that these would not end up in the hands of private armed groups.

Bulalacao said around 10,000 unlicensed firearms in the province have been accounted for since July 24 last year.

Also yesterday, Col. Romeo Baleros, officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Police office, and Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, presented to Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Milagros Salud Villanueva, Commission on Elections provincial supervisor, the 27 guns turned over by New People’s Army rebels, who surrendered over the weekend.

In Laguna, barangay councilman Richard Galit was arrested for illegal possession of firearms in San Pablo City yesterday.

Col. Eleazar Matta, Laguna police director, said a caliber .38 revolver and nine bullets were recovered when police raided the house of Galit in Barangay Concepcion.

Matta said he hopes the confiscation of loose firearms would reduce the number of election-related incidents. – With Non Alquitran