The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it has confiscated more than 3,300 loose firearms and dismantled 18 criminal groups in nationwide operations from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2 this year.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said these operations also resulted in the arrest of 709 suspects and the recovery, surrender, or confiscation of 3,384 guns in violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Acorda disclosed that 39 raids also led to the arrest of 47 suspected members of crime syndicates and the surrender of nine others.
The PNP chief 30 criminal cases have been formally filed as an offshoot of these operations.
“Following the successful police operation against the Concepcion Criminal Group and the recent encounter with the Ampoan Group, these accomplishments further solidify the PNP’s strong determination to effectively combat and dismantle criminal groups involved in different criminal activities within the country,” he said.
In the campaign against illegal drugs, Acorda said 3,993 operations resulted in the arrest of 4,823 drug suspects and the confiscation of illegal drugs valued at P359 million.
On the other hand, the campaign against most wanted persons netted 6,069 individuals, Acorda revealed.
In the counter-insurgency department, Acorda said 21 suspected rebels were arrested, 269 surrendered, and eight killed or neutralized in police operations.
The PNP chief also said the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group logged 21 arrests in 12 entrapment operations, apart from providing technical assistance to other PNP units.
Acorda reported that the country’s index crimes dropped by nearly 28 percent during the same period compared to last year’s figures for the same period.
Citing latest data, Acorda said 2,580 index crimes were logged from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2 this year as opposed to 3,573 incidents last year.
Index or focus crimes are considered serious crimes while non-index crimes covered violations of local ordinances and laws and road accidents.
The eight focus crimes or index crimes include theft, physical injury, rape, robbery, murder, homicide, motorcycle theft, and carnapping.
