ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has so far arrested 73 individuals for violating the nationwide gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Data from the PRO-6 showed that from January 12 to May 23, police also confiscated 73 firearms and four gun replicas.
Among the provinces in the region, Iloilo logged the highest number of violators at 31, followed by Capiz with 16. Antique reported eight while Aklan and Guimaras each recorded four.
The remaining 10 arrests were made by the Iloilo City Police Office (seven) and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 (three).
Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky, PRO-6 director, lauded the commitment of unit commanders and their personnel, highlighting the collaborative effort of the Joint Security Control Center under the supervision of Comelec.
“Even though election day has passed, the Comelec checkpoints remain in place across the region,” said Wanky. “Let this serve as a reminder that the gun ban remains effective until midnight of June 11, 2025.”
The region’s top cop further emphasized that the gun ban enforcement, which aligns with Republic Act No. 7166 and Comelec Resolution No. 11067, is part of a broader effort to maintain a safe and orderly electoral process, and the consequences of violating the ban are severe.
The ongoing operations serve as a warning that any attempts to carry firearms without proper authorization during the election period will not be tolerated by the authorities./PN
