AGUSAN DEL NORTE — Three firearms and ammunition were voluntarily surrendered to police in separate activities in Agusan del Norte on October 16, 2026, as the provincial police intensified efforts to address the possession of loose firearms and strengthen peace and security in local communities.
The Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office (ADNPPO) reported that the surrenders were facilitated by the Cabadbaran Component City Police Station, Jabonga Municipal Police Station, and the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company as part of the province’s continuing peace and security operations.
Provincial Director Police Colonel Ruel M. Cagape said personnel of the Cabadbaran Component City Police Station facilitated the voluntary surrender of one ARMSCOR shotgun by a 39-year-old laborer identified only as alias “Jo,” a single resident of Barangay Marcos, Magallanes, Agusan del Norte.
In a separate operation, the Jabonga Municipal Police Station secured the voluntary surrender of one .22-caliber revolver and three live rounds of ammunition from alias “Ed,” a 33-year-old married farmer residing in Sitio Tagbuaya, Barangay Bangonay, Jabonga.
The 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company also recorded the voluntary surrender of one .38-caliber revolver and one live round of ammunition from the same individual during the resumption of the Revitalized Katok Operation in Jabonga on the same day.
The three firearms and four rounds of ammunition were turned over through separate police-facilitated activities. Authorities did not provide further details on whether the firearms were registered or whether any administrative or legal proceedings would follow the surrenders.
The operations form part of the police campaign against loose firearms, which authorities consider a public safety concern because unregistered, illegally possessed, or improperly documented weapons can contribute to violence and other criminal activities.
Under Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, loose firearms include unregistered, obliterated, or altered firearms; lost or stolen firearms; illegal firearms; registered firearms possessed by someone other than the licensed owner; and firearms whose licenses have been revoked in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
The Revitalized Katok Operation is among the police initiatives aimed at reaching households, encouraging the voluntary surrender of loose firearms, and promoting compliance with firearms regulations.
Cagape emphasized that maintaining peace and security requires cooperation between law enforcement authorities and the public.
“Peace and security is a shared responsibility. These surrenders prove that our communities value safety. We will continue our Katok operations to reach every household and encourage full compliance with our firearms laws,” Cagape said.
The provincial police said the campaign would continue as authorities seek to encourage responsible firearm ownership, reduce the circulation of illegally possessed weapons, and sustain peace and order across Agusan del Norte.