ILOILO City – Since the election gun ban took effect on April 14, the police have so far netted 63 violators and 206 deadly weapons across Western Visayas.
Of these 206 weapons, 21 were bladed weapons and 185 were firearms (72 seized and 113 voluntarily turned over to the police), data from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) showed.
The gun ban also covered bladed weapons, according to the PRO-6.
The province of Capiz had the most number of surrendered guns (65), followed by Iloilo province (17) and Antique (12).
Negros Occidental, on the other hand, had the most number of arrested gun ban violators (16) followed by Bacolod City (13) and Iloilo province (12).
The island province of Guimaras had no gun ban violator, PRO-6 data showed, but the police managed to secure eight firearms. Seven of these guns were voluntarily surrendered; the other one was abandoned by its owner but was recovered by the police.
Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag lamented the continued violation of the gun ban despite the massive information campaign of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) about it in relation to the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this May 14.
“The gun ban will end on May 21 yet. All permits to carry firearms outside of residences have been suspended,” said Binag.
Those who want to be exempted from the ban must apply at the Comelec, he stressed.
The PRO-6 has made it its goal to keep Western Visayas crime-free during the election period (April 14 to May 21).
“So far we have not recorded any election-related violence. We appeal for the public’s continued cooperation,” said Binag./PN
