BONTOC, Mountain Province – Gun owners with expired licenses are encouraged to deposit their firearms to the Bontoc Municipal Police Station (MPS) for safekeeping, pending registration or renewal of a license to own and possess firearms to avoid being penalized. PMAJ Ryan Wakat, the Chief of Police of Bontoc MPS made this announcement during the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) meeting on August 20, 2024, in Barangay Guina-ang, Bontoc, Mountain Province.
This forms part of the “Oplan Katok”, an ongoing campaign of the PNP to allow firearms holders to avoid court proceedings by voluntarily turning over for safekeeping their guns whose licenses may have already expired or without the proper license. Those who do not heed the advice of the PNP through “Oplan Katok” could be the subjects of a search warrant as mandated by higher headquarters.
Meanwhile, PMAJ Wakat reported the peace and order situation in the municipality highlighting that as the center of commerce, trade, and education; crime activities in the capital town are still manageable.
The police official presented the comparative crime situation update of which one crime incident was recorded by the Bontoc MPS from June 25, 2023, to August 18, 2023, while six were listed from June 25, 2024-August 18, 2024. Of the six crime incidents recorded, three occurred in Barangay Bontoc Ili, two happened in Poblacion, and one in Alab Oriente.
In the implementation of the Municipal Ordinances, topping the list are violators of the Municipal Traffic Code, with a total of 177 covering June 25, 2024, to August 18, 2024. The highest violation listed is Prohibited Parking with 62 followed by No Helmet with 48.Other violations recorded are Unattended Parking-38, No Driver’s License -nine, No OR/CR- seven, Wrong Mode of Parking-one, Obstruction-seven, wearing of slippers-three, muffler which is covered under Municipal Ordinance No.334, S. 2021 is one, and one for U-Turn.
In the implementation of Municipal Ordinance No. 65, S. 2001, particularly on the Liquor Ban, 77 violators were recorded by the Bontoc MPS which were endorsed to the Office of the Municipal Treasurer for the collection of penalties to be paid by the business establishment-violators.
Also, PMAJ Wakat reported the six operational accomplishments of the Bontoc MPS from June 25, 2024 -August 18, 2024. These include one warrantless arrest, which is physical injury; four arrests of Most Wanted Persons including two qualified theft and two carnapping; and one arrest of Other Wanted Persons, which is estafa.
These accomplishments are credited to the continuous conduct of checkpoints, Bakal Sita, Mobile and Foot Patrol of the police personnel in their areas of jurisdictions, the presence of CCTVs, and the support of partner government agencies, the Municipal and Barangay LGUs, other stakeholders, and the community. By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay
