The campaign to address the proliferation of unregistered firearms continues to gain ground under the leadership of Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., Acting Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). This intensified campaign against loose firearms serves as a key step in dismantling Private Armed Groups (PAGs), ensuring the safety and security of every community nationwide. It also promotes responsible gun ownership and registration while encouraging public cooperation in reporting the whereabouts of private armed groups.
In its relentless efforts to account loose firearms, PNP recorded a total of 21,597 firearms captured, confiscated, and surrendered nationwide from January 1 to October 2, 2025. The campaign also led to the arrest of 9,044 individuals in connection with illegal possession and other firearm-related offenses, while 7,759 firearms were voluntarily turned in for safekeeping.
This major accomplishment comes alongside an institutional reform within the organization, marked by the deactivation of the five Area Police Commands (APCs) such as the Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, Eastern Mindanao, and Western Mindanao. In place of the disbanded commands, PNP activated Special Task Force on the Disbandment of Private Armed Groups (STF-DPAGs), which is mandated to intensify efforts against PAGs particularly in Mindanao.
Under this new framework, STF-DPAGs operates under the overall supervision of Police Lieutenant General Edgar Alan O. Okubo, Deputy Chief PNP for Operations, who will oversee sub-task force commanders in key operational areas. These field teams are tasked with identifying existing and potential private armed groups, disarming them, and accounting for all recovered weapons in close coordination with regional and provincial police offices.
The move stems from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive, as stated in his veto message to remove redundant units and improve efficiency and operational focus.
The newly activated task force will coordinate nationwide efforts to identify, neutralize, and disband private armed groups and recover their stockpiles of unregistered firearms.
“This organizational reform is a direct response to the President’s call for a leaner, smarter, and more focused police force. We are shifting from structure-heavy to mission-focused policing. Our priority is to dismantle private armed groups and take away the firearms that fuel violence and lawlessness in the regions,” said PLtGen Nartatez.
PNP reaffirms its commitment to uphold due process in all operations and encourages public support for the ongoing anti-loose firearms campaign. The Nation’s Peacekeeper, in partnership with local communities and other government agencies, assures the public of the success of this proactive campaign toward building a safer and more peaceful communitiesin the Bagong Pilipinas.
