ILOILO City – A 47-year-old man was arrested on Monday outside the polling center of Barangay Sua in San Dionisio, Iloilo province for carrying a homemade firearm.
The suspect, identified as Ray Benidicto of the same place, was arrested at 6:30 a.m. by village watchman Pepito Belga.
Benidicto was about to enter the polling center to vote when a 12-gauge shotgun with three rounds of ammunition accidentally fell, according to San Dionisio Police Station chief Lieutenant Edward Villanis.
“His firearm had no license or permit to be carried outside his residence,” Villanis said.
On the other hand, Benidicto denied reports that he was arrested on the premises of Sua Elementary School.
He told Panay News that at around 5:30 a.m. that day, he was walking to a private lot where he worked as a caretaker, a route far from the school.
Benidicto added that four village watchmen were following him.
“Samtang naga lakat ako ginsundan nila ako kag pag-abot sa ginabantayan ko nga duta, ila ako gin pugos kag nahulog ang akon pusil. Gin-hold nila ako kag nagtawag sang pulis kag ila ako gin-turnover,” Benidicto said.
He added: “Wala ako kakadto sa eskwelahan sala ang ila report… Wala ako kabalo kun ngaa gin pugos ako sang apat ka tanod kag wala gid ko ka pa eskwelahan kag kaboto,“
Benidicto was released after paying a P34,000 bail bond for his temporary liberty.
Police Regional Office 6 data from Aug. 28 until yesterday, Oct. 31, showed 118 individuals were arrested for violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.
Of this, 111 were civilians, four were security guards, one was Philippine National Police personnel, and one was from another law enforcement agency.
Comelec gun ban violators may face imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than six years. They are also disqualified from availing of probation and may face perpetual disqualification from holding public office and exercising their right to suffrage.
The gun ban will take effect until Nov. 29.
As of Monday, 407 firearms were voluntarily surrendered, 179 were deposited, and 85 were confiscated.
A total of 22,648 checkpoints have been installed in various areas./PN
