22 Gun Ban Violators Arrested in Western Visayas

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 has recorded 22 arrests since the election gun ban took effect on Jan. 12, 2025.

Lt. Col. Arnel Solis, PRO-6 spokesperson, said all those arrested were civilians.

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOcPPO) recorded the highest number of arrests, with six violators each.

The Capiz Police Provincial Office (Capiz PPO) arrested four, while the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) logged three.

Meanwhile, the Aklan Police Provincial Office (Aklan PPO), Iloilo Police Provincial Office (Iloilo PPO), and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-6 each reported one arrest.

Solis said the BCPO apprehended the latest two violators.

One suspect was caught carrying a gun replica while passing through a checkpoint along Barangay Mansilingan-Murcia Road in Bacolod City.

The other was arrested with a firearm during a drug buy-bust operation.

Although this election’s gun ban does not cover deadly weapons such as knives, Solis stressed that gun replicas are still prohibited.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier reminded the public that carrying firearms without an exemption certificate from the poll body constitutes an election offense.

The gun ban will remain in effect until June 11, 2025.

Until then, PRO-6 will continue to intensify checkpoint operations across the region.