MANILA, Philippines?Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. has ordered law enforcers to zero in on loose firearms in three villages where a large number of homicide cases have been reported in the past month.

Belmonte directed the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) to round up illegal and home-made guns, called ?paltik? or ?sumpak,? to help curb the increasing number of shooting incidents.

To be covered by the crackdown are Batasan Hills and the adjacent areas of Commonwealth and Holy Spirit villages, where most of Quezon City?s poor residents live.

QCPD director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego has already fielded a special task group to cut down the proliferation of firearms in the three barangays.

In a statement, Belmonte pointed out that a large number of homicide cases were reported in the three areas for the month of November.

The QCPD has reported 41 homicide cases in the three barangays, although 37 of the cases were already solved.

?I rally the QCPD to continue providing police intervention in the three areas to ensure the safety of our residents against criminal elements,? Belmonte said.

San Diego reported to the mayor that the QCPD confiscated 17 home-made shotguns or ?sumpak? Batasan Hills last month.

The QCPD director vowed to intensify the anti-criminality drive of the police especially during the Christmas holidays, noting that crimes against persons and property were on the rise.

He added that even police personnel in administrative jobs have been also detailed and mobilized for field duty to beef up police visibility on the streets.