ILOILO CITY -- The Philippine National Police has arrested 63 individuals in Western Visayas for violating the gun ban for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) spokesperson Supt. Joem Malong said Tuesday the gun ban led to the confiscation of 65 firearms, aside from the 92 that were surrendered by their owners.
Based on PRO 6 data, 16 of these violators were nabbed in Negros Occidental; Bacolod City has 13; Iloilo province has 12; Capiz has 7; the provinces of Aklan and Antique have 6 each; and Iloilo City has 3.
No violator has been recorded so far in the island province of Guimaras.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental also had the most number of seized firearms (22); Iloilo province (16); Capiz (10); Bacolod City and Antique provinces (7 each); Aklan (2); and Iloilo City (1). Some 21 bladed weapons were also confiscated.
These violators will face charges for violation of the Omnibus Election Code in relation to Republic Act No. 10591, Malong said in an interview.
She said that since the implementation of the ban on April 14, massive checkpoints have been established in strategic areas in the region, and the permit to carry firearms outside residences has been suspended.
Only members of the police, military, and other law enforcement agencies who are performing official duties will be allowed to carry firearms, she added. The election gun ban will last until May 21.
Malong cited only two election-related incidents in the region, both in the province of Capiz, adding that the number of election watch list areas region-wide remain at 129.
She said they have already prepared the deployment of personnel, who will secure the local polls, but declined to disclose their number for security reasons. (PNA)
