The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced on Thursday that it has intensified its drive against illegal and unregistered firearms to reinforce law and order throughout Metro Manila.
NCRPO officer-in-charge Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano directed all regional police units to strengthen intelligence gathering, expand police visibility, set up strategic checkpoints, and step up operations against individuals violating firearm laws. He urged members of the public holding loose firearms to turn them over immediately before face-to-face enforcement action leads to their arrest.
“Let me be clear: our message to individuals who are illegally possessing loose firearms is simple—surrender these firearms to the proper authorities and do not wait until police operations lead to your arrest,” Abrahano said.
“Possessing an undocumented or illegally acquired firearm is a violation of the law and poses a serious threat to public safety,” he added.
Abrahano issued the directive following disclosures from Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who pointed out that loose firearms are involved in roughly 98 percent of gun-related offenses.
According to interior department estimates cited by the NCRPO, around two million loose firearms are currently circulating nationwide.
“We will not allow the possession of firearms without the proper documentation to become normalized. We will continue to closely monitor individuals who carry or keep loose firearms because a single incident can potentially result in the loss of life,” Abrahano emphasized.
Reaffirming the command’s commitment, Abrahano assured the public that the NCRPO will stay “proactive, relentless and focused” in safeguarding residents across the metropolis against violent crime linked to illicit weapons.
“Our campaign is not only about arresting violators. It is about preventing these firearms from reaching the hands of criminals and preventing possible tragedies before they happen,” he stated.