THE Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Nicanor Bartolome, on Sunday ordered intensified operations to seize loose firearms during the remaining months leading to the May 2013 mid-term polls for secure and fair elections.

“By taking away these instruments of violence, we are effectively immobilizing the activities of some threat groups, criminal elements and partisan armed groups that may affect the otherwise peaceful outcome of the May 2013 polls,” Bartolome said.

Bartolome reported that the PNP has successfully confiscated more than 5,000 illegal firearms over the past 10 months of police operations.

A report from the PNP Directorate for Operations showed that a total of 4,976 loose firearms have been confiscated in separate police operations from January to October this year.

Bartolome noted that the firearms haul was equivalent to 69 percent or more than double that of the tally from last year’s operations covering the same period.

Bulk of the confiscated loose firearms (4,911) was recovered from criminal elements, while 158 were from threat groups.

The confiscation of these loose firearms was made through 1,914 Oplan “Bakal”/Oplan “Sita” operations, 80 internal security operations, 330 search warrant operations, and 476 checkpoint operations.

A total of 2,847 gun law violators were arrested in the 10-month police campaign

The PNP is also seeking to account for some 358,833 unregistered guns now deemed as loose firearms for failure of their owners to renew their gun licenses for more than two years.

Aside from the confiscation of loose firearms, a summary of PNP operational accomplishments over a six-month period from January to June 2012 revealed the arrest of 16,702 wanted persons, the surrender of 131 other wanted men and the slay of six others who resisted arrest.

The same report showed that 74 of those arrested belonged to the list of the PNP’s Top Most Wanted Persons.

Aside from the arrest of these wanted persons, the PNP also neutralized 91 criminal gangs and rounded-up 358 gang members in separate operations that also resulted in the confiscation of 90 assorted firearms.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo, Jr. said that as a result of more aggressive police operations against wanted persons, loose firearms, and organized crime, the PNP confiscated 3,791 firearms from 2,561 unauthorized firearm holders by setting up checkpoints, conducting on-the-spot gun check operations, and serving search warrants.

A total of 80 loose firearms were confiscated from 231 arrested motorcycle-riding suspects involved in various street crimes.