By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY—Police Col. Rainerio De Chavez, provincial director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), has ordered police stations to strengthen operations against illegal firearms to curb shooting incidents.
De Chavez emphasized the need to set targets and secure search warrants for individuals suspected of possessing illegal firearms linked to shootings.
The directive was discussed during a command conference at the Nocppo headquarters last week.
The provincial police also highlighted efforts to enhance intelligence gathering on loose firearms through the “Ugnayan sa Barangay” program.
According to the Provincial Operations Management Unit, police arrested 11 individuals and confiscated 11 loose firearms from March 10 to 16. In the same period, 13 firearms were deposited, and 21 were surrendered.
On March 15, a 35-year-old laborer was wounded in a shootout with police after resisting arrest during a gun raid in Barangay Bunga, Don Salvador Benedicto. Several police stations have also applied for search warrants against suspects in their respective areas.
Alleged NPA Rebel Surrenders
An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) member surrendered to police in Silay City on March 13.
Personnel from the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (Nocpmfc), Silay City Police, and the Provincial Intelligence Unit facilitated the voluntary surrender of “Ka Nonoy,” 40, a laborer from Barangay Guimbala-on.
The rebel returnee turned over a .38-caliber revolver and an improvised 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun. He told authorities he had renounced his support for the NPA.
He received cash assistance, groceries, and a sack of rice before being released to his family following proper documentation.
Five Arrested in Drug Bust
Five individuals were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay 6, Kabankalan City, on Tuesday.
Police seized 35 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP238,000, a digital weighing scale, PHP500 in marked money, and PHP812 in cash.
