ILOILO City – An 18-year-old lad was arrested by the police for violating the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) gun ban in Barangay Talongonan, Passi City.
Blumin Bandianon of the same barangay was taken to the Passi City police station on May 1.
At around 7:30 p.m. he was caught threatening resident Nestor Cipriano with a 12-gauge homemade shotgun.
Policemen collared Bandianon and seized the shotgun.
Aside from the gun ban violation, Bandiano also faces a charge for grave threat.
The gun ban started on Jan. 13, also the start of the five-month election period (Jan. 13 to June 12) for the May 13, 2019 midterm elections. It seeks to prevent unlawful elements such as private armed groups and gun-for-hire groups from intimidating, injuring or killing anyone during the election season.
During this period, all licenses to carry firearms outside of residences are suspended. Only members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement units will be issued written permits by the Comelec to carry firearms. But they have to be in their complete uniforms.
As provided for in Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, violating the gun ban is an election offense.
Violators face imprisonment not less than one year but not more than six years./PN
