Two kagawads held after Iloilo gun raids

POLICE in Western Visayas continue to raid the homes of persons believed to be possessing unlicensed firearms as part of Tokhang Kontra Guinadumili-an nga Pusil, which aims to curb the proliferation of illegal guns.

TWO village officials were arrested following separate firearm raids in Iloilo province on August 26, 2018.

The suspects were identified as Vic Corros, 33, of Cabugao, San Enrique; and Jhonard Tupaz, 43, of Calangag, Batad.

Policemen swooped on Corros’ house around 5:30 a.m. Sunday and recovered a caliber .45 pistol, two fired ammunitions, six live ammunitions, and a magazine.

Senior Inspector Fernando Punzalan, San Enrique police chief, said they conducted the raid against Corros after receiving complaints that he had been indiscriminately firing his gun.

On the same day, the police raided Tupaz’s house at 7 a.m.

Chief Inspector Ciriaco Esquilarga, Batad police chief, said they have received reports that Tupaz was keeping a caliber .45 pistol which led to the raid.

Recovered from Tupaz was a bag with six ammunitions of caliber .45 pistol.

Members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO)-Provincial Special Operations Group (PSOG), IPPO-Provincial Intelligence Branch, and Batad Police Station carried out the operation against Tupaz.

The operations against Corros and Tupaz are also part of the Police Regional Office’s (PRO)-6’ Tokhang Kontra Guinadumili-an nga Pusil campaign launched on July 23, 2018.

The PRO-6 estimated that criminals and civilian gun owners hold 76,917 loose firearms.

Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police chief, said that there are more than 17,000 unregistered loose firearms in the region.

“These are the ones that fell into the hands of criminal gangs,” he added.

On the other hand, 59,000 registered firearms has expired or un-renewed licenses.

From July 24 to August 13, 2018, police in Western Visayas conducted six search and seizure operations against illegally-possessed firearms which led to the arrest of six persons and the confiscation of nine firearms.

For the same period, 32 other police operations arrested 31 persons and confiscated 32 firearms.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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