Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has directed all police commanders at the municipal and city levels to intensify the campaign against loose firearms and to launch aggressive operations targeting gun-running syndicates.
“This is part of our anti-crime measures since firearms, particularly the unlicensed ones, are the main instruments in committing criminal activities. Denying criminal elements the opportunity to own loose firearms will cripple their capability to operate,” said Nartatez.
He said the same order extends to National Support Units like the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Special Action Force (SAF).
Nartatez’s instruction came amid the viral video of the ambush on a mayor in Maguindanao using a rocket-propelled grenade.
The mayor survived the ambush and at least three of the attackers died but the incident put into question the access of criminal elements to firearms, particularly the high-powered ones.
While the PNP has accounted for loose firearms last year, Nartatez emphasized the need to step up the conduct of operations and implementation of the strategies to account for more loose guns and prevent their proliferation.
‘Intelligence-gathering is now being intensified to run after existing gun-running groups and identify any new players in the proliferation of loose firearms,” said Nartatez.
On the other hand, Nartatez also tasked the Civil Security Group (CSG) to implement measures to compel delinquent gun owners to renew the licenses of their firearms. (Aaron Recuenco)
