ILOILO City – Various police units under the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) so far arrested 43 persons for violating the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) gun ban that commenced on Jan. 9.
Also seized were 35 firearms and 11 other “deadly weapons” (such as knives, etc.).
The most recent person arrested in connection with the gun ban was a senior citizen from Barangay San Roque, Malinao, Aklan – Lito Tayco, 64.
He was nabbed in Barangay Arenas, Balete, Aklan and yielded a .357 revolver.
Residents complained to the police that the suspect indiscriminately fired his gun.
Tayco was detained at the Balete police station and could be charged with illegal possession of firearm and violation of the Comelec gun ban.
Meanwhile, the province of Capiz recorded its first arrest of a suspected gun ban violator on Thursday, Jan. 27 – a retired police officer.
In Barangay Malonoy, Dao, Capiz, Jose Marin, 60, was taken to the Dao police station.
Personnel of the Dao municipal police station were conducting mobile patrol when they received a phone call from a certain Baltazar Paja that a person was carrying a firearm.
Cops recovered from Marin a .9mm pistol with one magazine loaded with 15 ammunition, and one homemade .38 revolver with five ammunition.
PRO-6 director, Police Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo, once again reminded gun owners that without a special permit from the Comelec, they are prohibited from taking their guns out of their residences.
“They may have a permit to carry and is licensed but they will still be arrested for violating the Comelec gun ban if they have no special permit,” he said.
“Huwag na lang magdala ng armas kasi mahirap na,” he suggested.
Dongbo also reminded police intelligence personnel to secure special permits from Comelec.
“Kasi naka-civilian clothes sila, so need nila ‘yan. Hindi naman pwede na mag-conduct sila ng surveillance na naka-uniform,” said Dongbo./PN
