NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office policeman arrested 65 gun ban violators during the first one week of the prohibition on the unauthorized carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons in connection with the BSKE elections.

NCRPO director Brigadier General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said on Tuesday his men have been deployed in different areas of the metropolis to monitor the strict gun ban enforcement.

Nartatez said that from August 29 to September 4, they conducted 1,319 Commission on Elections-supervised checkpoints that led in the arrest of 65 gun ban violators.

The official said those operations also led in the confiscation of 16 illegal firearms and 23 gun replicas and improvised or home-made firearms.

Nartatez reiterated that all kinds of firearms, even with license and permit to carry, are not allowed to be brought outside the owner’s residence during the gun ban unless the bearer has a gun ban exemption permit from the Comelec.

“I am am telling the public that all gun ban violators will be dealt with accordingly,” the official said.

As of yesterday, Philippine National Police Public Information Office chief Colonel Jean S. Fajardo said that the gun ban violators arrested have already risen to 277 and 271 of them civilians.

The rest are one policeman, two members of the Armed Forces, one Elected Government Official and two security guards.

PNP chief General Benjamin S. Acorda Jr. earlier said they have recorded a generally peaceful filing of certificates of candidacy by aspirants in the October 30 BSKE.

“We are in control and are constantly monitoring developments. We’re putting an eye especially in the Bangsamoro Administrative Region but so far, to our assessment, we are on top of the situation,” said the top cop.

The PNP chief said they have also recorded an 8.6 percent drop in the overall crime volume last week compared to the preceding week.

Gen. Acorda said they are investigating seven suspected ‘election-related incidents’ including the shooting of a Alex Repato, the incumbent barangay captain in Libon, Albay.

Repato was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding assassins shortly after he filed his COC on Monday last week.

Another candidate for barangay chairman in Midsayap, Cotabato Haron Dimalanes, was also killed before he could file his COC.

Some ‘persons of interest’ have been identified by the police units investigating the two incidents.

Acorda also reminded all holders of Permit-to-Carry-Firearms-Outside-of-Residence that their PTCFORs have been suspended from August 29 to November 29 and thus, they could not carry their licensed guns unless they have exemptions from the Comelec.

The Police Security and Protection Group, headed by Colonel Rogelio P. Simon, is the unit tasked to provide protection to persons facing imminent threat on their lives including lawmakers, businessmen and other VIPs.

The PNP chief said they are investigating the indiscriminate firing during the filing of COCs in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.

“We are beefing-up our forces there to make sure that there will be no further violation or similar incidents that will happen in the area.

However, the shooter has been identified by our ground units and he will be facing appropriate criminal charges,” Gen. Acorda said.