59 Arrested in Western Visayas for Election Gun Ban Violations

By Jennifer P. Rendon

One and a half months into the election period, 59 people have been arrested for violating the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) gun ban.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 made the arrests from Jan. 12, the start of the election period, until 6 a.m. on Feb. 25.

None of those arrested are members of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Civilians accounted for 55 of the arrests, while one suspect was from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, two were from other law enforcement agencies, and one was an elected government official.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office recorded the most arrests with 17, followed by Iloilo Provincial Police Office with 12, Capiz PPO with 10, Bacolod City Police Office with seven, Iloilo City Police Office with four, and Guimaras PPO and Aklan PPO with three each.

The Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 made two arrests.

Records showed that various police units conducted 58 operations, leading to the confiscation of 67 firearms, including 57 small arms, two light weapons, six replica guns, and two explosives. Another firearm was also recovered.

Brigadier General Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief, commended unit commanders and their personnel for strictly enforcing COMELEC checkpoints in coordination with the Joint Security Control Center member agencies.

“Be reminded to strictly adhere to our Police Operational Procedures, COMELEC policies, and related guidelines when conducting checkpoints, with utmost courtesy and respect toward commuters and motorists,” Wanky told police officers.

The enforcement of the COMELEC checkpoint and gun ban follows Republic Act 7166, which mandates synchronized national and local elections, and COMELEC Resolution 11067, promulgated on Sept. 25, 2024.