CCPO exceeds target versus loose firearms

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu City Police Office exceeded its targets in confiscating illegal firearms for the year 2014.

Chief Inspector Enrique Belciña of the CCPO Police Community Relations said that they have confiscated 226 loose firearms and arrested 188 persons for illegal possession of firearms from January to December 29.

He also cited that they have arrested 400 wanted persons and neutralized six out of the Top 10 most wanted persons in Cebu City in the same period of the year.

He said that every unit is required to confiscate at least one illegal firearm every month as part of their campaign against loose firearms dubbed as “Oplan Kontra Boga.”

For the entire year, the 11 police stations and the city headquarters are made to recover a total of 144 firearms.

“So nakuha nato more than sa quota required. Almost double actually,” he said.

Belciña said that they have intensified their efforts on the anti-criminality campaign following the mandate of Police Regional Office – 7 director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Bañas.

He added that aside from participatory law enforcement, they also attribute their accomplishment to the comprehensive deployment system that was proven effective in preventing criminal activities.

Police personnel are being deployed within the city to conduct intensive checkpoint ope-rations.

“Mag-exceed gyud ta permi tungod sab sa paningkamot sa atong kapulisan,” he said.

Every week, the city police shall assess the result of the checkpoint operations and determine the place and time when illegal activities are rampant.

He said that they will apply the same strategy this year and shall lay out new action plans if the need arises.

Belciña then pointed out that despite the number of cases being filed against erring police, the public should not generalize the entire police force as unruly.

He added that they do not condone the misdemeanor of their colleagues but instead filed the necessary charges against them if proven guilty.

“Naay pulis naghimo og di maayo pero gamay ra sila kaayo compared sa mga tarong na pulis,” he said. CCPO has a total of 1, 149 police personnel.

Belciña further assured the public that they will strive to maintain the good performance they have showed in 2014 and preserve the peace and order in Cebu City as they intend to strengthen their campaign against criminal activities this 2015.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Cisneros, 28, was arrested for illegal possession of firearm along Katipunan Street, Sitio Calejon, Barangay Labangon, Cebu City around 4 a.m. yesterday.

He reportedly shot at the responding policemen of Punta Princesa Police Station but missed.

Cisneros then fled with his motorcycle but was apprehended after a brief chase.

The police recovered a cal. 45 pistol, one magazine, three live rounds of ammunition and two empty shells from his possession.  (FREEMAN)