by Roselle Aquino
Camp BGen Vicente P Lim, Calamba City – The Police Regional Office CALABARZON Regional Director PBGen Paul Kenneth Lucas led the presentation of PRO CALABARZON’s recent accomplishments in the ongoing campaign against loose firearms, in a press briefing held September 3, 2024 at this camp.
Lucas said that said effort is in preparation for the 2025 Midterm Elections, underscoring the command’s commitment to maintaining peace and order as the critical election period approaches.
From January 1, 2024, to August 31, 2024, PRO CALABARZON conducted an impressive 60,332 police operations, including the implementation of Search Warrants, Checkpoints, Oplan Bakal/Sita, police patrols/responses, and Oplan Katok.
These operations resulted in the confiscation, recovery, and seizure of a total of 2,929 firearms. Among these, 991 firearms were confiscated, while 1,938 were secured for safekeeping. The confiscated firearms included 2,899 small firearms, 30 light weapons, and 92 homemade firearms, with 317 submitted to the crime laboratory for further examination.
Additionally, these operations led to the arrest of 612 individuals, and 606 cases have already been filed in court. The success of this campaign is attributed to the unwavering dedication of PRO CALABARZON personnel, combined with the active cooperation of the community in reporting illegal activities especially involving the use of loose firearms.
“The achievement we are celebrating today is a testament to the strong partnership between PRO CALABARZON and the public. Together, we are working towards a safe and peaceful environment for all,” said Lucas during the briefing.
Lucas also emphasized that the campaign against loose firearms will continue with the same intensity. “Our efforts will not cease until every illegal weapon is removed from the streets and out of the hands of those who would use them to harm others. We are committed to sustaining the momentum we have built and ensuring that our region remains secure as we approach the 2025 elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Regional Director expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the personnel of PRO CALABARZON for their exemplary work and extended his gratitude to the community and various stakeholders for their steadfast support.
