Ecija cops ordered to check loose gun owners

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – Police authorities here, yesterday has ordered Nueva Eci­ja police to investigate and identify the owners of the alleged 40,000 loose firearms in the province.

This was the reaction of Chief Superintendent Alan LM Purisima, Central Luzon police director, after the Philippine National Police Directorate for Intelligence reported that at least 40,000 unlicensed firearms are in the hands of lawless elements in Nueva Ecija. 

Purisima ordered Senior Superintendent Roberto Aliggayu, Nueva Ecija provincial police director, to conduct an in-depth investigation on the said report of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence. 

Nueva Ecija is listed as among the election areas of concern for the forthcoming synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The PNP Directorate for Intelligence based its figure of loose firearms on the assumption that 10 percent of the male population aged 18 years and above have firearms. 

The PNP Directorate for Intelligence report also tagged over 70 crime syndicates in the province which include the Communist Party of the Philippines and unscrupulous private persons.  

Aliggayu assumed post as director of the Nueva Ecija police provincial office in mid-August this year. 

Last month, there were already reported shooting incidents in connection with the forthcoming elections. 

Purisima also directed Aliggayu to submit immediately his report with the alleged 40,000 loose firearms in his area of jurisdiction.