POLICE Regional Office 6 (PRO6) removed hundreds of loose, illegal, and improperly documented firearms from public circulation following back-to-back, high-impact operations across Western Visayas.
The regional campaign, conducted under the leadership of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. and PRO6 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Randulf T. Tuaño, recorded an impressive surge in firearm turn-ins over a 48-hour period from September 11 to 13.
In the initial 24-hour drive ending September 12, PRO6 executed 125 targeted operations that accounted for 135 firearms—including 131 voluntarily surrendered, three confiscated, and one turned over through the Application for Deposit of Firearms with Expired Registration (ADFER).
Officers also recovered five explosive devices and arrested one individual.
The momentum escalated dramatically during the following 24-hour cycle from September 12 to 13 under PRO6’s “Project RTT 3389” (Restrict, Track, and Turn-in), a campaign targeting all 3,389 barangays in the region.
Regional forces accounted for an additional 733 firearms and nine explosives in a single day.
The overwhelming majority—728 weapons—were voluntarily surrendered by residents, while two were confiscated and three were processed under ADFER rules.
Iloilo Province led the voluntary turn-ins with 554 firearms, followed by Aklan (79), Capiz (33), Antique (23), Guimaras (21), and Iloilo City (18).
PNP leadership emphasized that public cooperation and voluntary surrender are critical to preventing gun violence and keeping communities safe.
“The voluntary surrender of firearms is a huge help in preventing crime and violence,” Nartatez said. “We encourage anyone holding unlicensed or unregistered firearms to comply with the law and surrender them to the police.”
Brig. Gen. Tuaño reiterated that Project RTT 3389 provides a lawful pathway for gun owners to resolve documentation issues or surrender illegal arms safely.
Police authorities urged all firearm owners to keep legal weapons properly secured and to seek official guidance regarding registration, renewal, or lawful turnover.
