Abra Leads in Voluntary Surrender of Loose Firearms in Cordillera Region

BAGUIO CITY: The province of Abra has achieved the distinction of having the highest number of voluntarily surrendered loose firearms in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) for the year 2023.

According to Philippines News Agency, Data from the Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PROCor) revealed that in Abra, 371 loose firearms were surrendered to the police or through local village or municipal officials last year. This figure represents about 33.5 percent of the total 1,106 unlicensed or unregistered firearms collected by the authorities in the region.

Under the initiative Oplan Katok, which involves house-to-house verification among firearm holders who have not renewed their licenses, Benguet recorded the second-highest number of surrendered firearms, totaling 160. Kalinga followed with 145 surrenders, Mountain Province with 138, the Baguio City Police Office with 136, Ifugao with 131, and Apayao with 120.

In addition to these voluntary surrenders, there were 67 firearms confiscated and 28 recovered during various police operations across the CAR. PROCor director Brig. Gen. David Peredo, in a statement to the Philippine News Agency, expressed confidence in Abra’s progress, particularly in terms of peace and order. He acknowledged the significant role played by the local community in changing the province’s image to that of a peaceful region.

Col. Carolina Lacuata, the chief of the PROCor information office, defined loose firearms as those that are unregistered, altered, lost, stolen, or illegally manufactured. This category also includes registered firearms that are in the possession of unauthorized individuals, those whose licenses have been revoked, or have not been renewed according to regulations.