PRO3’S ANTI-LOOSE GUNS DRIVE CONFISCATES OVER 2,000 FIREARMS

BY KEVIN GALANG 

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Police Regional Office 3’s (PRO3’s) stepped up drive against loose firearms has resulted in the recovery of 2,170 firearms.

The campaign also recorded significant increases in operations, arrests, and criminal cases filed during the first half of 2026.

Based on the PRO3 data, from Feb. 24 to June 28, police conducted 1,011 anti-loose firearms operations or up by 27.8 percent from the 791 operations carried out during the same period in 2025.

The operations led to the recovery of 2,170 guns, 472 more than the 1,698 firearms recovered during the same period last year.

Seized firearms rose from 426 to 568 while police recovered eight firearms during law enforcement operations after recording none in the comparable period in 2025.

The PRO3 said that community participation also played a major role, with 1,048 firearms voluntarily surrendered to authorities or more than triple the 319 surrendered during the same period last year.

Meanwhile, police arrested 526 individuals for firearms-related violations compared to 405 in 2025 and filed 506 criminal cases, up from 393 cases during the previous year’s period.

PRO3 highlighted one of its latest operations after personnel from the Santa Maria Municipal Police Station, in coordination with other police units and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), arrested a “high-value” drug suspect during a buy-bust operation in Bgy. Guyong, Santa Maria, Bulacan in the early hours of July 1.

The operation escalated into an armed encounter, resulting in the seizure of about 75 grams of suspected shabu worth approximately P510,000, a 9mm Glock pistol, a hand grenade, live ammunition, and other pieces of evidence.

PRO3 director Brig. Gen. Jess B. Mendez said the accomplishments reflect the Central Luzon police’s  sustained commitment to reducing crime by removing illegal firearms from communities.

He added that in line with the focused agenda of PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., PRO3 will continue conducting intelligence-driven operations, strengthening coordination with partner agencies, and encouraging greater community participation to curb the proliferation of loose firearms and maintain peace and order across Central Luzon.