World · Philippines Bureau
Soccsksargen police seize 311 firearms in month-long crackdown
A sustained law enforcement operation across South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani in October resulted in the recovery of over 300 unlicensed weapons and 27 arrests, authorities said.
LSN Philippines ·
Police in the Soccsksargen region (Region 12) recovered 311 assorted firearms and arrested 27 individuals during an intensive October campaign targeting the illegal possession and circulation of weapons, regional authorities announced Monday.
The month-long operation focused on preventing loose firearms from entering the hands of criminal organizations operating across the four-province region that comprises South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani.
Brig. Gen. Alan Manibog, the commanding officer overseeing the operation, characterized the intensified enforcement drive as a critical measure to maintain public safety and reduce gun-related crimes in the region.
The campaign reflects ongoing efforts by Philippine National Police units to tighten control over the proliferation of unregistered weapons, which authorities have identified as a significant factor in violent crime rates across Mindanao.
Police did not provide additional details regarding the specific locations of the operations or the categories of weapons seized during the campaign.