BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — Four residents voluntarily surrendered four firearms, three live rounds of ammunition, and one magazine to police during intensified peace and security operations conducted by the Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office (ADNPPO) on October 31 and November 1, 2026.
The separate operations formed part of the police provincial office’s intensified campaign against loose firearms, which aims to prevent the proliferation of unregistered and illegally possessed weapons and strengthen public safety across the province.
According to PCOL Ruel M. Cagape, ADNPPO provincial director, police personnel from different units and municipal police stations facilitated the voluntary surrender of the firearms and related ammunition in four separate incidents.
On October 31, personnel of the Kitcharao Municipal Police Station facilitated the surrender of one caliber .38 revolver and one live ammunition from alias “Mig,” 37, a farmer and resident of Purok 2, Barangay Bangayan, Kitcharao.
On the same day, the Magallanes Municipal Police Station received one caliber .45 Armscor firearm and two live rounds of ammunition voluntarily surrendered by alias “Win,” 41, a fishpond caretaker residing in Purok 5A, Barangay Caloc-an, Magallanes.
The campaign continued on November 1, when personnel of the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company facilitated the surrender of one caliber .22 revolver from alias “John,” 28, a laborer and resident of Barangay 4, Nasipit.
Meanwhile, personnel of the Buenavista Municipal Police Station facilitated the voluntary surrender of one caliber .45 revolver, one magazine, and two live rounds of ammunition from alias “Dex,” 39, a driver residing in Purok 4, Suwa, Barangay Manapa, Buenavista.
In total, the four separate incidents resulted in the recovery of four firearms, consisting of one caliber .38 revolver, one caliber .22 revolver, and two caliber .45 firearms, along with three live rounds of ammunition and one magazine.
Cagape underscored the importance of voluntary compliance with firearms regulations, emphasizing that surrendering unauthorized or illegally possessed weapons is an important step toward preventing gun-related violence and maintaining peace and order.
Under Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, loose firearms include unregistered, obliterated, or altered firearms; lost or stolen weapons; illegal firearms; registered firearms possessed by individuals other than their licensed owners; and firearms whose licenses have been revoked under existing laws and regulations.
The law provides the regulatory framework governing the possession, registration, licensing, and use of firearms and ammunition in the Philippines.
“We encourage others to follow this example. Compliance with the law is the surest path to a peaceful and secure Agusan del Norte,” Cagape said.
The ADNPPO continues to encourage residents to cooperate with authorities and comply with firearms regulations as police intensify efforts to reduce the circulation of loose firearms and prevent their possible use in criminal activities.