TUBAO, La Union – At least 30 assorted loose firearms were surrendered to the police here by several local village officials and private citizens in line with the campaign against unregistered or illegally
manufactured firearms last Tuesday afternoon.
The campaign, called Proactive Against Loose Firearm towards Transforming and Illuminating the Key players of the Community (PALTIK), was done in partnership with the local and barangay officials.
“These firearms were surrendered by concerned individuals at the police station during the duration of the PALTIK operation starting last August 13 until September 11 and will be turned- over to the Ilocos regional crime laboratory office in Camp Oscar Florendo, Parian, San Fernando City, for ballistic examinations,” said Senior Inspector Jhayar N. Maggay, Tubao’s police chief.
Maggay advised the communities in his area that it is better to surrender their loose firearms rather than for lawmen to confiscate them and file court charges against them for illegal possession, which
imposes prison penalties and fines.
Samuel Dacanay, village chairman of Francia West, one of the firearm owners who personally surrendered to the municipal police here said that his unlicensed gun was given to him by a friend who lives abroad.
Loosed firearms include those in the possession of an individual other than the licensee and also those lost or stolen or with expired licenses.
The surrendered firearms include 30 hand guns of various calibers- .22, .38, .45- a gauge shotgun, and an air gun, while 16 pistols were deposited with expired licenses. with William Garcia, Jr/Northbound Philippines News-northboundasia.com