BANGUED, Abra — The leadership of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera said at least 1,200 illegal firearms are believed to be in circulation in this conflict-stricken province, a major deterrent to lasting peace as well as honest, orderly and peaceful elections next year.

Chief Supt. Samuel B. Diciano, PRO-COR deputy regional director for administration, said the local police have intensified operations against loose firearms to pressure gun holders to secure permits.

Diciano said nearly half of the 10,831 firearms in the region are considered illegal.

Out of the over 5,000 unlicensed firearms, the official revealed at least 1,200 guns have been identified to be in the possession of various individuals in Abra.

For two decades, Abra had been tagged as the killing fields of Northern Luzon because of the rampant political violence that led to the loss of innocent lives among politicians and their supporters.

While there is a snowballing support to the peace efforts in the province, Diciano said unlicensed firearms in the possession of unscrupulous politicians and their bodyguards are considered a serious threat to the achievement of lasting peace.

He said the local police are working double time to document unlicensed firearms.

The local police were able to confiscate at least 45 unlicensed firearms and charge the owners over the past two months.

With a firearms amnesty set to start Thursday, October 1, the PNP had been accepting renewal of firearm licenses, registration of guns for the amnesty program and the enlistment of firearms with expired licenses.

After the May 2007 elections, local leaders in the province denounced violence as a means of disciplining and silencing people and assured local religious leaders of the implementation of peace programs.