PRO8 intensifies campaign against bladed weapons

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
May 12, 2015

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – Police Regional Office 8 thru the leadership of PCSupt Asher Abanilla Dolina, acting regional director, continuously pressing its drive against illegal possession of bladed weapons or Batas Pambansa Blg. 6.

The Acting Regional Director said that PNP PRO8 is continuously conducting pro-active operations against deadly/bladed weapons and invigorates its efforts to achieve peaceful and orderly communities.

Section 1 of BP Bilang 6 disclosed “It is unlawful to carry outside of one's residence any bladed, pointed or blunt weapon such as "knife", "spear", "pana", "dagger", "bolo", "barong", "kris", or "chako", except where such articles are being used as necessary tools or implements to earn a livelihood or in pursuit of a lawful activity. Any person found guilty thereof shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than one month nor more than one year or a fine of not less than Two Hundred Pesos nor more than Two Thousand Pesos, or both such imprisonment and fine as the Court may direct."

The PNP leadership is very much hopeful that thru the continuous implementation of Lambat Sibat, a plan that involves focusing on strategies to sustained service of search warrants, warrants of arrest, manhunt operations to arrest Most Wanted Persons and decrease of hacking/stabbing incidents in the region.

This Lambat Sibat is formulated to negate the occurrence of murder, homicide, robbery, physical injuries, theft and the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region. By using several anti-crime strategies and tactics – like the “fishing nets and spears” – PRO8 will be able to address multiple crime problems and issues. These strategies include checkpoint and choke point, Oplan bakal/sita in order to prevent the proliferation of loose firearms and deadly weapons that are frequently being used to commit crimes, Beat/Foot Patrol and Police Community Relations for a wider community awareness to generate support and cooperation in crime control and public safety program.

He encouraged all police commanders down to the MPS level to religiously implement night watches, enhance patrol operations, rapid deployment of personnel and resources, as well as deployment of ninety percent (90%) office personnel as patrollers.

PCSupt Dolina added that the PNP will not flinch in its fight against lawless elements and will make sure that they will be put behind bars. He likewise reminds all its personnel to remain alert at all times. He said, “Police authorities would relentlessly maintain and sustain orderliness, especially in places where illegal activities like illegal drug pushing, illegal gambling and other street crimes are rampant. These strategies also aim to arrest criminals and wanted persons from their hideouts.”

PCSupt Dolina showcased PRO8’s accomplishment in its stern campaign also of deadly weapon. For the 1st quarter of 2015, a total of One Hundred Seven (107) stabbing incidents and Twenty Nine (29) hacking incidents were recorded by the Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division, PRO8. Assorted deadly/bladed weapons were seized during the various police operations such as the conduct of checkpoints, services of Search Warrants and Warrants of Arrest and implementation of Oplan Bakal/Sita being carried out by the different police/city provincial police offices.