GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Police units across Police Regional Office 12 (PRO 12) accounted for five loose firearms through voluntary surrender on September 14, 2026, including firearms turned over by four local government officials as part of the police campaign to reduce unregistered and improperly documented weapons in communities across the region.
According to PRO 12, the firearms voluntarily surrendered included homemade shotguns, a revolver, a submachine gun and a single-shot pistol.
No arrests were made in connection with the voluntary surrender because the firearm owners voluntarily turned over the weapons to authorities for safekeeping.
Police said the surrender formed part of continuing efforts to account for firearms that are either undocumented, improperly kept or otherwise subject to police monitoring and appropriate processing.
The voluntary surrender of firearms is among the mechanisms being used by PRO 12 to encourage firearm owners to comply with existing regulations and prevent weapons from being misused or becoming involved in criminal activities.
35 firearms accounted for under Revitalized Katok
Separate from the voluntary surrender operations, PRO 12 also conducted 35 house visitations on September 14 under the Accounting and Disposition of Firearms with Expired Registration (ADFER) program, also known as Revitalized Katok.
The house-to-house campaign resulted in the accounting of 35 firearms.
Police said the firearms encountered during the visitations were subjected to appropriate processing depending on their status. These included firearms processed for registration renewal, voluntarily surrendered for safekeeping, deposited with authorities, or verified to determine whether their documentation and status were in order.
The operation is intended to improve the accounting of firearms with expired registrations while giving owners an opportunity to address their firearm records through the proper legal procedures.
PRO 12 Regional Director PBGEN Alan B. Manibog commended police personnel involved in the campaign as well as firearm owners who cooperated with authorities.
“Ang kusang pagsuko at pagpapasailalim sa tamang proseso ng mga baril ay mahalagang hakbang upang maiwasan ang maling paggamit ng mga ito. Patuloy nating palalakasin ang kampanya para sa ligtas at mapayapang komunidad,” Manibog said.
The police regional office said the campaign would continue as part of broader efforts to promote responsible firearm ownership, improve accountability of firearms and support public safety across the region.
Authorities emphasized that firearm owners are expected to comply with applicable registration and documentation requirements and to coordinate with police authorities regarding firearms with expired or questionable registration status.
The accounting of firearms through voluntary surrender and house visitations comes amid continuing police efforts to keep firearms properly documented and prevent loose or improperly registered weapons from being diverted for unlawful use.