The Philippine National Police (PNP) urged the public Sunday to report credible information on gun-for-hire syndicates as law enforcement intensifies its nationwide crackdown on contract killers and illegal firearms.

PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police treat all leads seriously while hunting wanted criminals and coordinating with prosecutors to secure convictions.

"Every piece of credible information can help save lives, solve cases, and hold offenders accountable," Nartatez said in a statement.

Nartatez directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to validate reports on contract-killing operations alongside a wider campaign against loose firearms.

Police records show that a single confiscated unregistered firearm is frequently linked to two or more violent crimes.

The police chief also ordered the Intelligence Group to step up monitoring of organized crime groups and share real-time intelligence with field units.

Beyond curbing violent crime, Nartatez stressed that targeting armed groups and illegal weapons is critical to maintaining peace ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.