ILOILO City – A total of 70 individuals have been arrested across Western Visayas so far for violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Since the implementation of the gun ban on January 12, authorities have seized 68 firearms and six gun replicas, based on PRO-6’s latest data.
Among the law enforcement units, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office recorded the highest number of arrests with 20, followed by the Iloilo Police Provincial Office with 16, and the Capiz Police Provincial Office with 10.
Other police units reported the following arrests:
* Bacolod City Police Office – 8
* Iloilo City Police Office – 5
* Antique Police Provincial Office – 3
* Aklan Police Provincial Office – 3
* Guimaras Police Provincial Office – 3
* Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 – 2
PRO-6 director Brigadier General Jack Wanky urged firearm holders to strictly adhere to the gun ban regulations during the election period.
“These arrests should serve as a warning. We appeal to everyone to be responsible and comply with the law in this critical period. We appreciate the collaborative efforts of government agencies under the Joint Security Control Center in ensuring the proper enforcement of election rules,” Wanky said.
He also emphasized that Comelec checkpoints will be strictly implemented in strategic areas across the region as the May 2025 national and local elections draw closer.
“Your cooperation is crucial in ensuring that the elections will be secure, peaceful, and orderly,” Wanky added.
The gun ban and Comelec checkpoints are being enforced in accordance with Republic Act No. 7166 (An Act Providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms) and Comelec Resolution No. 11067, which was promulgated on September 25, 2024./PN
