In Danao City: Illegal gunsmiths surrender their tools

CEBU, Philippines — Illegal gunsmithing in Danao City may soon be on the decline after various individuals who are purportedly involved in the illicit vending and manufacturing of faulty firearms in that city surrendered their supplies and equipment to the Danao City Police Station.

Additionally, these individuals were also given jobs by the Danao City local government unit as well as livelihood programs like a water refilling station backed by Danao City-based cooperative Katropa.

National Police Commission-7 acting Regional Director Edman Pares, said that these individuals are the last ones to possess the skills of making and manufacturing such firearms, as they didn’t pass on their knowledge to the rest of their family members.

“I know that this indistry kaning ilang skills, kutob rani nila kay wa na man nila tudlo-i ilang mga anak. So ilang mga anak ila ng gipaskwela, duna nay mga professionals ila na g’yung gi-divert,” Pares said.

He added that their main focus right now is to boost their available livelihood support for these individuals so they will refrain from engaging in such illegal activities again.

Danao City chief of police, Police Lieutenant Colonel Clark Ariola, told the media that there is a big possibility that they can identify the illegal manufacturers in the city. He however admitted that identifying the buyers remains a challenge for them since some of them come from different areas of the province, the different regions, or even overseas.

“’Yung illegal manufactures, there is a big possibility, and (probability) na we can identify them. But those who are, the buyers, will be very difficult kasi may mga bumibili from other regions, other parts of the country, tri-cities natin. So ‘yun ang pinipigilan natin,” he said.

He also added that the turn-over of these supplies and equipment was a result of the call of the PNP chief and the Police Regional Office-7 regional director to address the concern of illegal manufacturing of firearms in the city.  (CEBU NEWS)