Law enforcement authorities in the Zamboanga Peninsula region have reported significant successes in their November operations, recovering a large cache of illegal guns and arresting hundreds in a parallel anti-gambling campaign.
Massive Haul of Illegal Weapons
According to Police Brigadier General Edwin Quilates, director of the Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9), a total of 176 loose firearms were confiscated by police units last month. This substantial recovery was the result of 222 separate law enforcement operations conducted across the region.
General Quilates detailed that these operations encompassed a variety of police activities. These included strategic checkpoint operations, the service of court-issued search warrants, and successful initiatives encouraging the voluntary surrender of illegal weapons.
Coordinated Efforts Yield Results
In an official statement, Quilates attributed these achievements to a multi-faceted approach. "These achievements are the results of focused police works, strong inter-agency coordination, and active community support," he stated. He further emphasized that the operations demonstrate the police force's commitment to public safety, saying, "The successful outcomes of these coordinated operations reflect the police steadfast to protect communities from the scourge of illegal firearms."
Simultaneous Anti-Gambling Crackdown
Alongside the campaign against loose firearms, PRO-9 also launched a major offensive against illegal gambling activities in November. Police conducted 168 coordinated anti-gambling operations throughout the Zamboanga Peninsula.
The results of this parallel drive were equally striking. Authorities arrested 485 individuals and confiscated bet money totaling approximately P156,850. General Quilates commended the dedication and professionalism shown by all police units involved in the month-long anti-gambling campaign.
The combined results from November highlight a period of intense and productive police activity in the region, targeting two major areas of concern: the proliferation of unregistered weapons and unlawful gambling operations.
