765 firearms surrendered deposited in Bicol campaign
By MICHAEL B. JAUCIAN
POLICE in the Bicol region have accounted for 765 firearms with expired registrations, including 535 voluntarily deposited by their owners and 230 surrendered during police operations, the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO 5) said.
The figures were reported on Tuesday (Nov. 2) during the launch of Project Kasurog: Bantay Baril at the PRO 5 Multi-Purpose Building in Camp BGen. Simeon A. Ola, in this city, led by Bicol police chief Brig. Gen. Randy Glenn Silvio.
Silvio said the project seeks to strengthen the implementation of the Accounting and Disposition of Firearms with Expired Registration (ADFER) campaign through closer coordination between PRO 5 and the Regional Civil Security Unit 5 (RCSU 5).
The campaign encourages firearm owners to renew their licenses, surrender weapons they no longer intend to keep, or temporarily deposit them with the police for safekeeping, subject to existing laws and regulations.
Police have also conducted house-to-house visits and other activities to reach firearm owners and encourage them to comply with licensing requirements, Silvio said.
He said the initiative aims to prevent unaccounted firearms from being used in criminal activities and promote responsible gun ownership.
“We urge all firearm owners to cooperate with authorities by ensuring that their firearms are properly registered and accounted for. This initiative is not only about compliance with the law but also about preventing loose firearms from falling into the wrong hands and ensuring the safety of our communities,” Silvio said.
The Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) continues to strengthen its campaign against loose firearms in the Bicol Region, citing the need to prevent unlicensed and illegally possessed weapons from being used in criminal activities and threatening public safety.
The campaign is part of the police organization's broader efforts to regulate firearm ownership and maintain peace and order, particularly during major public gatherings and religious celebrations.
During the 2026 Peñafrancia Festival in Naga City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) imposed a temporary suspension of permits to carry firearms outside residences (PTCFOR) from September 3 to 21 and deployed approximately 2,500 police personnel to secure pilgrimage areas and ensure the safety of devotees and visitors.
The security measures covered the major religious activities, including the Traslación on September 11 and the fluvial procession on September 19.
The PNP’s enforcement campaign against loose firearms also builds on previous police operations in Bicol, which resulted in the seizure of 1,299 illegal firearms, according to an earlier media report.
The continuing campaign underscores the importance of firearm regulation and police enforcement in preventing weapons from falling into the hands of criminal elements and in safeguarding communities across the region.
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