
Arrested gun ban violators now over 570 — PNP
THE number of gun ban violators apprehended by the Philippine National Police (PNP) since last January 12 rose to 572 this week, majority of the arrested offenders civilians, officials said.
The gun ban-related arrests came as PNP chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil ordered a further stricter implementation of the nationwide prohibition on the unauthorized carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons as part of their effort to keep peace and order during the May 12 National and Local Elections.
PNP spokesperson, Brigadier Gen. Jean S. Fajardo said that among those arrested for violation of the Omnibus Election Code and Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 were 538 civilians, 1 AWOL policeman, 4 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 4 foreign nationals, 2 other law enforcement officers and 22 security guards.
The official said that a total of 576 firearms, many of them revolvers and pistols were also seized from the violators, Police have also confiscated firearm replicas which are also prohibited by the gun ban which will last until June 11 this year.
Brig. Gen. Fajardo said that since they started enforcing the Comelec-imposed gun ban, they have also recorded 3 suspected Election Related Incidents or ERIs in Regions 1,2 and 6 respectively.
She said that the incident in Western Visayas which involved a relative of a local candidate destroying tarpaulins of their rivals has been validated as an ERI.
The official said there were also 4 confirmed non-ERIs during the period, 3 in Region 6 and another in Region 12.
Brig. Gen. Fajardo said that most of the violators were arrested during police operations while 65 were apprehended by policemen manning Comelec-supervised gun ban checkpoints.
The National Capital Region Police Office in Metro Manila headed by Brig. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin made the biggest number of gun ban arrests during the period with 161, followed by the Police Regional Office 3 in Central Luzon under Brig. Gen. Fajardo with 73 and the PRO7 in Central Visayas headed by Brig. Gen. Redrico A. Maranan with 72.
The growing number of security guards being arrested for violation of the gun ban has also prompted the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (PNP-SOSIA) headed by Brig. Gen. Marlou Roy V. Alzate to continue reminding all private security agencies to ensure that their posted guards are compliant with the law.
Brig. Gen. Alzate said they are regularly meeting with owners and managers of security agencies and the Comelec to remind the private security companies that their guards can only carry company-owned firearms provided they have a gun ban exemption from the poll body as well as the required Duty Detail Orders.
The PNP-SOSIA director also said that security guards must bear in their minds that mere carrying of live ammunition will bring them trouble with the law amid observations that some of these guards are being seen in their assigned areas without guns in their holsters but can be visibly seen with live ammunition in their gun belts.