The Police Regional Office 7 (PRO 7), led by its Regional Director Police Brigadier General Redrico A Maranan, had successfully shut down 15 illegal gun-making hubs in Danao City, Cebu in a decisive high-impact operation. This is in line with PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil’s directive to eliminate sources of loose firearms nationwide.
On May 20, 2025, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 (RMFB 7) together with the Danao City Police Station launched a joint combat operation conducted in Barangay Cahumayan, Danao City, following intelligence operations from March 21 to May 16 that exposed the scale of illegal firearm production in the area, particularly those referred to as “paltiks”.
PBGen Maranan personally led the mission as part of his strategy to dismantle criminal gangs, drug syndicates, private armed groups, and terrorists who use illegal gun factories to fuel violence not only in Central Visayas, but across the country.
Seized during the operation were ten shanties that were dismantled; ten lathe machines used for illegal gun manufacturing; and unfinished pistols and parts, including two lower receivers, three upper receivers, three barrel, grinder, bench vice, welding machine, framed hacksaw, assorted steel files, drill bits, sawdust, and assorted magazines. In total, nine suspects were arrested including one individual who had surrendered voluntarily.
PBGen Maranan emphasized the broader implications of this campaign, noting that the existence of such facilities poses a direct threat to national security.
“The simultaneous dismantling of fifteen illegal gun-making sites reflects the intensity of our commitment to rid Central Visayas of deadly weapons. These manufacturers fuel violence by supplying firearms to criminal gangs, drug syndicates, private armed groups, and even insurgents like the New People’s Army (NPA) and terrorists. Their destruction is not just a local triumph—it is a strategic blow to criminal networks operating nationwide,” PBGen Maranan said.
PRO 7, under PBGen Maranan’s leadership, vows to uphold effective and efficient policing strategies to eliminate all forms of crimes and irregularities throughout the Central Visayas region.
