ILOILO City – A security guard was arrested in Barangay Manoc-Manoc, Boracay, Malay, Aklan for violating the election gun ban.
Begie Lotera who was assigned at a business establishment was taken by policemen to the Boracay police substation on Friday at around 1 p.m.
Lotera was in civilian clothes but was carrying a 12-gauge shotgun. He presented a fake gun license and gun ban exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Lotera faces charges for illegal possession of firearm and violation of the election gun ban.
The gun ban started on April 14 – also the start of the election period for the May 14 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
All permits to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) are suspended until May 21.
According to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), only police officers and government troops in proper uniform are allowed to carry firearms.
Private security agencies and other government law enforcement agencies should get gun ban exemptions from Comelec or their personnel with guns would be arrested, said Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, regional police director.
“Nobody is allowed to carry firearms outside of their residences without exemption from the Comelec,” stressed Binag./PN
