ILOILO City – From Jan. 9 to April 21, 172 persons in Western Visayans were arrested for violating the gun ban order of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Negros Occidental had the most number of violators at 60; followed by Iloilo Province (29), Aklan (25), Iloilo City (18), Bacolod City (13), Antique (11), Capiz (10), and Guimaras (six).
A total of 95 assorted firearms and 87 different types of bladed weapons were confiscated.
The most recent arrest was in Calinog, Iloilo. Two persons were caught at a checkpoint of the Calinog police station around 12:45 p.m. on April 21 in Barangay Cabugao.
The suspects were Danny Lopez, 41, of Barangay Datagan, Calinog and Nixon Loder, 35, and of Barangay Pajo, Lambunao, Iloilo.
Confiscated from Lopez were one .45 pistol and bullets.
Recovered from Loder, on the other hand, were one Ingram M11 c.9mm pistol and bullets.
According to Police Major Dadje Delima, Calinog police chief, Lopez was previously arrested (in December 2018) for illegal possession of firearm subsequently convicted for violation of Republic Act
(RA) 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) in July 29, 2019. He availed himself of probation.
“The two suspects are presently in the custody of the Calinog police station and will be facing charges for violation of RA 10591 and the gun ban,” said Delima.
PRO-6 director Police Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo lauded the Calinog police.
“The Philippine National Police is serious in its campaign against loose firearms and in implementing the Comelec gun ban,” he said.
The gun ban will be until June 8, 2022./PN
