By Jennifer P. Rendon
When snitching has a price.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) on Monday announced that it will be giving a P10,000 cash reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of a gun maker or manufacturers.
And where will the fund for the project be sourced from?
“It will come from my own pocket,” Colonel Noel Aliño, Iloilo police chief, said.
For tipsters, he assured that any information and their identity will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
The giving of rewards is anchored on IPPO’s campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms.
Dubbed Oplan Sigabong, a Hiligaynon word for a loud explosion, it will be IPPO’s drive against loose firearms.
The campaign would be done in line with Police Regional Office (PRO) 6’s Birada Semana, a weeklong enhanced managing police operations (E-MPO) and focused police operation on anti-criminality, wanted persons, illegal drugs, and illegal gambling.
Aliño said that it would also be in compliance with the order of PRO-6 director Brigadier General Leo Francisco for an intensified crackdown against the proliferation of loose firearms in a bid to keep the streets safe from criminals.
“By doing so, it will ensure peace and order in Western Visayas, especially during the holiday season,” Aliño said.
He believed that providing monetary incentives could entice the public in giving information against those who illegally manufacture firearms.
While he might be spending money out of his own pocket, Iloilo’s top cop believed that it will be cost-efficient in the long run.
“Running after criminals entails cost. Since crimes are usually perpetrated with the use of firearms, we could lower crime incidents and also reduce our operational cost,” Aliño said.
Since the giving of the reward was made official last week, no police operation has been done yet to arrest a gun manufacturer.
But in its campaign against loose firearms and explosives, the IPPO said they were able to account for 160 surrendered, abandoned, or seized firearms.
Eighty-three of which are homemade shotguns while 57 are revolvers and 20 are pistols.
The Lambunao Municipal Police Station accounted for the most number of firearms at 25 while Cabatuan MPS has 18, Sta. Barbara MPS with 15; and Passi City PS with 14.
Other police stations recorded a single-digit confiscation.
There were also 20 explosives recovered.
