AGUSAN DEL NORTE, October 15, 2026 — Two loose firearms, including a .38-caliber revolver with a defaced serial number and a .45-caliber Colt pistol loaded with five rounds of ammunition, were voluntarily surrendered to police in separate operations in Agusan del Norte as authorities intensified efforts to strengthen public safety and prevent the proliferation of illegal firearms.
The Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office (ADNPPO) reported that the two incidents occurred in the municipalities of Tubay and Kitcharao on October 14 and 15 as part of the province’s continuing peace and security initiatives and intensified campaign against loose firearms.
Provincial Director Police Colonel Ruel M. Cagape disclosed that personnel of the Tubay Municipal Police Station facilitated the voluntary surrender of one .38-caliber revolver with a defaced serial number, along with two live rounds of ammunition, on October 15.
The firearm and ammunition were turned over by a 56-year-old married male tricycle driver identified only by the alias “Tuto,” a resident of Barangay Tagmamarkay, Tubay, Agusan del Norte.
The defaced serial number raises concerns regarding the firearm’s traceability and highlights the importance of bringing unregistered, altered, or otherwise unauthorized firearms under the supervision of law enforcement authorities. The police report, however, did not specify the circumstances surrounding the possession of the revolver.
In a separate incident, the 2nd Agusan del Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company recorded another positive result during the resumption of the Revitalized Katok Operation on October 14 in Sitio Zapanta Valley, Kitcharao.
The operation led to the voluntary surrender of one .45-caliber Colt MK IV pistol bearing serial number 943015. The firearm was accompanied by one magazine loaded with five serviceable rounds of ammunition.
Unlike the revolver recovered in Tubay, the serial number of the .45-caliber pistol was identified in the police report. Authorities did not provide further details about the person who surrendered the pistol or the circumstances that led to its turnover.
The two incidents underscore the continuing efforts of the ADNPPO and its operating units to encourage the voluntary surrender of firearms that are unregistered, improperly documented, or otherwise considered loose under existing firearms regulations.
Under Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, a loose firearm includes an unregistered firearm; a firearm with an obliterated or altered serial number; a lost or stolen firearm; an illegal firearm; a registered firearm possessed by someone other than its licensed owner; or a firearm whose license has been revoked in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
The law provides the legal framework for regulating firearm ownership and possession in the country. The surrender of loose firearms is an important component of efforts to improve firearms accountability and reduce the potential risks posed by unauthorized weapons in communities.
The ADNPPO continues to implement its campaign against loose firearms through its municipal police stations and mobile force units, alongside peace and security operations across the province.
Police efforts to encourage the voluntary turnover of firearms are intended to promote compliance with firearms regulations and support a safer environment for residents.
Authorities have yet to disclose whether the surrendered firearms will undergo further investigation to establish their ownership history and determine whether they may be linked to any criminal activity.