2024 RECAP: 82 GUN VIOLATORS ARRESTED, 1,151 LOOSE FIREARMS ACCOUNTED FOR IN CORDILLERA

January 4, 2025 Metro BLISTT Police Patrol

As a result of the unyielding campaign of Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO-CAR) against loose firearms, 82 gun violators were arrested and 1,151 loose firearms were accounted for in the region from January 1 to December 31, 2024. Based on the records from the Regional Operations Division of PRO-CAR, for the period covered, Abra Police Provincial Office (PPO) has the highest number of accomplishments with 37 arrests, followed by Kalinga PPO with 19 arrests, Apayao PPO with 11 arrests, Benguet and Mountain Province PPOs with five arrests each, Baguio City Police Office with four arrests, and Ifugao PPO with one arrest.

Out of the 1,151 assorted unlicensed or unregistered firearms accounted, 1,038 were voluntarily surrendered by
individuals and stakeholders, while 81 firearms were confiscated and 32 firearms were recovered during various police operations. Topping the list is Abra PPO, which accumulated the most number of loose firearms with 388 firearms, followed by Benguet PPO with 158, Kalinga PPO with 144, Ifugao PPO with 132, Mountain Province PPO with 128, Baguio City Police Office with 113, and Apayao PPO with 88.

Loose firearms encompass unregistered, altered, lost, stolen, or illegally manufactured firearms. These include
registered firearms held by unauthorized individuals or those whose licenses have been revoked, as per regulations. The said accomplishments are attributed to the continuous implementation of strategic police operations across the
region, complemented by proactive community engagement initiatives through dialogues with residents and
formal community meetings or “pulong-pulong” sessions, actively supporting the PNP’s enhanced efforts to address
loose firearms.

(PIO PRO-CAR)