MANILA, Philippines ? The Philippine National Police is slowly accounting for loose firearms, bringing down the number from 1.1 million to 1.09 million, after more than a month of implementing an intensified campaign against illegal guns.

Director General Jesus Verzosa announced on Monday the confiscation of some 651 unlicensed firearms from private security agencies, company guard forces, and government guard units that have stopped operating.

Of the 651 firearms, 26 were 12-gauge shotguns, 21 were caliber 22 revolvers, and 604 were caliber 38 revolvers.

The confiscation was a result of ?intensified operations through post to post and administrative inspection conducted? in different regions including Metro Manila, Verzosa said.

To date, there are 262,432 firearms in the possession of 1,336 private security agencies.

On Monday, retired General Danilo Lazo of the Armed Forces also surrendered five firearms, including his service pistol and an AR103 automatic rifle.

?I decided to surrender my firearms because at my age of 76, I do not have to defend myself anymore,? Lazo said during a press conference.

Verzosa said he and his men are optimistic that they can achieve the target of reducing the number of loose firearms by three percent every month.

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Ireno Bacolod of the Civili Security Group said his office is eyeing the possibility of giving the surrendered firearms to some police and even military personnel to compensate for the shortage of firearms.

The malfunctioning firearms will be converted to farming implements to aid in the agricultural sector, he added.

As of July 31, the PNP has accounted for 19,824 firearms with expired licenses, 435 from criminal elements, and 48 from threat groups.

?This is a call to every peace-loving citizens to surrender their expired or unrenewed firearms,? Verzosa said, adding that after the end of the gun amnesty in October, the PNP will launch offensives against the holders of unlicensed firearms.