PRO-6 forms task force against unrenewed licenses of firearms

ILOILO CITY , Philippines — The Police Regional Office-6 has formed Task Force Armas, an interim unit that will hunt down holders of expired gun license.

PRO-6 director Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz said that the task force will be headed by Sr. Supt. Wesley Barayuga, PRO-6 deputy director for operations.

Cruz said Barayuga will work with chiefs of police all city and municipal police stations all over Western Visayas in identifying owners of loose firearms and to apply for search warrants to confiscate these illegal items. 

“Mag-uumpisa kami ng raid sa may mga pinakamatagal na na hindi nakapag-renew ng firearm licenses nila,” said Cruz who issued an appeal earlier to gunowners for the renewal of licenses but this was apparently ignored.

“Matagal na po tayong nanawagan sa mga nagmamay-ari ng mga baril na ito na dapat mag-renew ng kanilang licenses. And we cannot wait any longer because of their defiance,” he said.

As of August this year, of the 37,821 registered firearms, 33,675 have expired licenses. Of the unrenewed licenses, 29,573 were listed for individual firearms and 4,102 for juridical firearms.

Records from the PRO-6 Firearms and Explosives Unit showed that Iloilo province has the most number of expired firearms licenses in Western Visayas with 8,614.

Bacolod City followed with 6,705 expired licenses; Negros Occidental has 6,613; Iloilo City has 4,696; Capiz has 2,941; Aklan has 2,065; Antique has 1,540; and Guimaras with only 502. (FREEMAN)