By BEHN FER HORTALEZA JR.
PIA Dagupan Infocenter

CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO –The Police Regional Office 1 based here recently received a big boost for its armory from no less than the trial courts which, under an arrangement, turned over 142 assorted, court case-related firearms to the latter under the “custodia legis” program.

The firearms collected were used as pieces of evidence in various cases which were confiscated through the implementation of search warrants and the intensified campaign against loose firearms in line with the police’s ‘Oplan Bakal,’ Police Regional Director Romeo C. Hilomen said.

The guns were collected upon termination of court litigation involving these.

The Custodia Legis program of PRO 1 provides the guidelines in “the proper disposition of recovered evidence acquired by PNP units and stations in their police operations or acquired in the course of follow-up investigation including any article of material property illegally possessed or voluntarily surrendered by any person or group of person.”

Chief Supt. Hilomen thanked the judiciary in the region for being supportive to the program of PRO1. He also commended the police operatives for their relentless effort in the campaign against all forms of criminalities involving the use of firearms.

Withdrawal of these firearms was coordinated with court personnel and judges in compliance to Supreme Court Memorandum Circular No. 47-98.

Based on the Crime Incident Data Management System of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD), a total of 1,456 firearms were accounted from 2003 to present which were used as evidence of cases filed in court.

Hilomen said he will request PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr., thru the Firearms and Explosives Division at Camp Crame, Quezon City to approve the eventual issuance of the recovered firearms to police personnel of PRO1 who are still without issued firearms