By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – President Roxas, Capiz Mayor Receliste “Tanoy” Escolin voluntarily surrendered several licensed firearms to the local police on Monday afternoon, April 8.
Escolin personally turned over one caliber .45 pistol with 14 live rounds, two long-barrel 12-gauge shotguns with 12 bullets and four magazines, and one rifle of the baby Armalite type with 49 live rounds.
He emphasized that all the surrendered firearms are duly licensed and covered by legal permits to own and possess.
Police Maj. Alfred De Leon, chief of the President Roxas Municipal Police Station, said the surrender was part of the ongoing campaign against loose firearms under the government’s “Tokhang Kontra Armas Luthang” (TKAL) program.
He said the campaign is being intensified in light of the upcoming midterm elections.
“This is part of our efforts to ensure a safe and peaceful election period,” De Leon said.
Escolin said he voluntarily yielded his firearms to encourage other individuals, especially fellow politicians, to follow suit.
“Although all my firearms are licensed, I decided to turn them over to the police as a sign of cooperation and to set an example,” he said.
Escolin is seeking reelection in the May 12 midterm elections.
He claimed that although he is serving what would be considered his third and final term, he is eligible to run again due to his three-month suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman, which he says disrupted his full term.
TKAL is a Philippine National Police (PNP) initiative aimed at curbing the proliferation of loose firearms and promoting responsible gun ownership, especially among candidates vying for public office.
The program supports the broader goal of ensuring secure and orderly elections at both local and national levels.
The surrendered firearms and ammunition are currently in the custody of the President Roxas Municipal Police Station for safekeeping.
They will be returned to Escolin after the election period, in accordance with Commission on Elections (Comelec) rules.
