GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The government’s gun amnesty program is gaining grounds in Region 12 where some 560 applications for firearms licensing have been posted so far, the Police Regional Office 12 (PRO 12) here announced Wednesday.

“There is good response from concerned individuals and parties in our region towards the amnesty program. At least 562 applications for gun licensing or documentation have been received,” Supt. Arpha Abul Kayr Macalangcom of the PRO 12 told the Manila Bulletin.

Based on initial statistics, the number of applications received in Region 12 is the country’s highest, said Macalangcom, head of the PRO 12’s Firearms and Explosives, Security Agencies and Guards Section (FESAGS).

Macalangcom, concurrent deputy chief of the PRO 12 operations and plans division, said his region has an estimated 62,000 “patent” loose firearms.

Of the figure, he said, 8,000 are in the hands of juridical entities like police auxiliary units and guns with expired licenses held by civilian individuals.

At least 42 applications have been posted so far under the “patently” loose firearms, while 520 others were received from holders of undocumented guns or with expired licenses, Macalangcom said.

Region 12 is composed of the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat and the cities of General Santos, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal and Cotabato.