Gun ban violators in W. Visayas reach 135

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A week before the gun ban period ends, the number of arrested “violators” in Western Visayas slowed down.

From the start of the election period on Aug. 28 until 6 a.m. of Nov. 22, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 records indicated that 135 persons were arrested for going against the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.

The PRO-6 data showed that most violators are civilians at 128.

Four violators are security guards while another two are lumped under the category of other law enforcement agency (OLEA). One OLEA violator is a member of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) who was arrested in Iloilo City while the other one is a provincial guard from Aklan province.

A PNP member was also arrested.

Still, the region’s two biggest provinces accounted for majority of the arrests.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Police Office (NOCPPO) arrested 39 while the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) nabbed 23; Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) with 14; and Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and Capiz PPO with 16 each.

Aklan PPO has arrested 11 violators while Guimaras PPO, Antique PPO and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RFMB) 6 with four each.

Among others, they were or will be charged for violation of Comelec Resolution No. 10918, which prohibits the bearing, carrying, or transporting firearms and other deadly weapons outside residence or place of business, and in all public places; employing, availing, or engaging the services of security personnel and bodyguards; and transporting or delivering firearms and explosives, including its parts, ammunition, and/ or components.