STRICT enforcement of the gun ban in Metro Manila since last January 9 has resulted in the arrest of over 1,200 offenders including some foreigners, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Major General Felipe R. Natividad told the Journal Group Thursday..

The NCRPO has made the most number of gun ban-related arrests and seizures since January 9 when the Philippine National Police (PNP) enforced a nationwide prohibition on the unauthorized carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons that could be used as a tool of violence during the election period which will end this coming June 8.

PNP Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. has ordered the NCRPO and the 16 other Police Regional Offices to continue the strict enforcement of the gun ban and see to it that all violators would be apprehended and charged in court.

The move has greatly contributed in the conduct of a generally peaceful national and local elections last May 9 wherein Filipinos gave a landslide victory to President-elect, former Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Vice President-elect, Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte, said Lt. Gen. Danao.

The NCRPO has confiscated nearly 600 firearms as well as over 600 bladed/pointed weapons, eight grenades, 18 explosives and over 3,700 assorted live ammunition as a result of its gun ban enforcement as well as the service of search warrants and warrants of arrest, police responses and conduct of Oplan: Bakal and Oplan: Sita and buy-bust operations, said Maj. Gen. Natividad.

He added that the recovery of more than 400 handguns, five long firearms, nearly 200 gun replicas and improvised guns like ‘sumpak and paltik’ and the thousands of live ammunition greatly prevented the possibility they could have been used to commit crimes or sow poll-related violence since the start of the election period.

The strict gun ban enforcement has also netted even foreign violators in the metropolis.

Hours after voting ended in Metro Manila, Malaysian national Andrew Too Teck Wee,34; and Chinese national Zheng Yi,29, were arrested for illegal possession of firearm and violation of the gun ban in Parañaque City.

Southern Police District director, Brigadier Gen. Jimili L. Macaraeg said the two Asian nationals were accosted by security officers at the Okada Resorts and Casino in Barangay Tambo around 10:30 p.m. last May 10 after an x-ray operator noticed one of their bags containing what looked like a firearm.

Macaraeg said the two foreigners placed their bags in a tray during a routine x-ray check. When the two claimed the bag, security officers accosted them.

Both tried to escape on foot but were subdued by the guards and turned over to members of the Tambo Police Sub-Station 2.

Both failed to show any document authorizing them to carry a Taurus caliber .40 pistol with serial no. SCP38509 with a magazine containing five live ammunition.

Wee alias ‘Andy Lim Lozada,’ a resident of Sta. Cruz, Laguna and Yi who is staying in Makati City are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and the Omnibus Election Code.

Brig. Gen. Macaraeg commended the Okada security officers for making the arrest. Violation of the ban is an election offense punishable with one to six years imprisonment.

The NCRPO also apprehended a total of 105 liquor ban violators last week as it strictly enforced the prohibition on the sale and use of alcohol products last May 8 and 9.

Maj. Gen. Natividad said the 105 persons were arrested after they ‘sold, furnished, offered, bought, served and consumed’ liquor in Metro Manila on May 8 and 9.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) headed by Brig. Gen. Remus B. Medina apprehended 62 violators while the Manila Police District (MPD) under Brig. Gen. Leo M. Francisco arrested 27 violators.

On the other hand, eight violators were arrested by members of the Northern Police District headed by Brig. Gen. Ulysses G. Cruz while six were caught by the Eastern Police District under Brig. Gen. Orlando O. Yebra Jr.

The SPD apprehended two violators who were both found to be Barangay East Rembo rescue personnel.

The two were identified as Jayson Sambajon,38; and Regina Cuadro,33.

Macaraeg said his men were conducting patrol along 28th Avenue in East Rembo, Makati City around 8 p.m. last Monday when a concerned citizen informed them of the presence of two persons drinking in public in gross violation of the liquor ban.

Officers accosted the two and placed them under arrest after both resisted and even uttered unsavory words on the lawmen after being told they were drinking illegally. Recovered during the operation were one bottle of a local brandy, a crystal mug glass and a Bluetooth speaker.

Both were charged for violation of Comelec Resolution No. 10746, alarm and scandal and resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person.