ILOILO City – So far, 11 violators of Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban have been apprehended across Western Visayas since the prohibition started on Jan.9.
The most recent to be arrested was a 38-year-old resident of Barangay Cabano, San Lorenzo, Guimaras – the first in the island province. He yielded a .38 revolver.
The other violators were caught in the following areas:
* Negros Occidental – one each in Cauayan town, Kabankalan City, Cadiz City, and Hinoba-an town
* Iloilo province – one each in the towns of Cabatuan and Dueñas
*Aklan – one each in the towns of Makato and Nabas
* Iloilo City – one
* Bacolod City – one
All the arrested persons were charged in court, according to Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis.
He again reminded the public that potentially deadly bladed objects such as knives and bolos were also covered by the Comelec gun ban which ends on June 8 yet.
Comelec Resolution No. 10741 set the checkpoint guidelines for the gun ban enforcement.
There shall be at least one checkpoint in each city or municipality.
Additional checkpoints of the Philippine National Police (PNP) or Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) may be established in coordination with the Election Officer (EO) having jurisdiction over the city or municipality.
Any unit designated to man a Comelec checkpoint must be led by a regular member of the AFP or the Philippine National Police (PNP) with a rank of at least Lieutenant or Police Lieutenant.
In the absence of these ranks, the highest ranking officer shall make a special designation of a lower ranking officer or non-commissioned officer to act as a commanding officer or team leader of the checkpoint.
An adequate number, according to the Comelec, of AFP and PNP personnel shall man checkpoints and must be in complete service uniform with the name plates and other identification tags clearly visible and readable. They shall not be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.
Checkpoints must be well-lighted and properly identified so that those who will pass through them could easily identify the AFP/PNP uniformed personnel manning the checkpoints with their nameplates and other identification tags clearly visible and readable./PN
