By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The first company of the Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (Nocpmfc) here reported that 225 loose firearms were surrendered through the “Armas Baylo Bugas” program since September.
Lieutenant Colonel Nazer Canja, head of 1st Nocpmfc, said they collected these loose firearms from the northern part of the province since the program’s launching on Sept 13.
21 loose firearms were surrendered in September, 81 in October, 73 in November, and 25, as of Dec 12.
The guns came from individuals in the cities of Escalante, Silay, Talisay, Victorias, and San Carlos, and the towns of E.B. Magalona, Calatrava, Murcia, and Don Salvador Benedicto, Canja said.
Canja said 337 sacks of rice were already given to concerned citizens who surrendered their homemade or improvised firearms and their facilitators.
He said Silay has the most number of surrendered loose firearms.
The surrendered firearms will be destroyed before the end of the year or by January 2021.
Canja said shooting incidents in northern Negros were reduced and gun-related incidents such as hold-up and other crimes against person or property were prevented because of the campaign.
Police stations and the second company Nocpmfc have also adapted the said program to help in the anti-criminality campaign, he said.
