Authorities in Western Visayas have arrested five persons for violation of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 10728 or the ban on the bearing, carrying, or transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons.
“We would like to remind the public that the gun ban has already started on January 9, 2022 and will end on June 8, 2022. So, carrying of firearms, explosives, bladed weapons, gun replicas, air gun, air soft gun is not allowed unless otherwise they have a certificate of authority from the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concern,” Lt. Col. Arnel M. Solis, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office Western Visayas (PRO6), said in an interview Tuesday.
A gun ban violator will be facing a penalty of imprisonment of one year to six years and a minimum bail of PHP20,000 depending on the assessment of the Prosecutor’s Office.
If the firearm has no license, violators can be imprisoned for six to 12 years and bail of more or less PHP100,000 depending on decision of the Prosecutor’s Office.
PRO 6 Regional Public Information Office (RPIO) data showed that the violators are from Negros Occidental, Iloilo City, and Iloilo Province with one each and two from Aklan.
Nabbed in Aklan were Harish Taladtad, 27, of Sitio Gintigban, Barangay Tina, Makato and Joven B. David, 30, of Barangay Toledo, Nabas.
Taladtad was apprehended for curfew violation around 1:45 a.m. of January 9 but was found to have in his possession an improvised 12-gauge shotgun loaded with an ammunition, and a scythe.
David was drunk when he threatened to kill Prince Felix Brill D. Sollesa of Barangay Unidos, Nabas around 7 p.m. on January 9.
Authorities recovered from his possession a 19-inch bolo.
In Negros Occidental, Christopher A. Gaisen, 21, of Sitio Bunga, Barangay Orong, Kabankalan City was caught carrying a cal. 38 revolver with five bullets, and two-bladed weapons when he passed by the Comelec checkpoint in Barangay 9 around 10:25 p.m., also on January 9.
He was onboard a tricycle when flagged down for inspection and while checking on the documents of his vehicle, policemen saw a protruding gun from his unzipped sling bag.
In Iloilo City, the Iloilo City Police Station 4 was on mobile patrol when they spotted RD M. Elado, 22, of Barangay Calumpang, Molo – believed to be waiting for a rival gang- with a 12-inch knife protruding from his waist.
The first violator of the gun ban from Iloilo province was Arnold V. Sara, 37, of Barangay Pamuringao Proper, Cabatuan.
Police found in his possession a cal. 38 with six live ammunition when they responded to a report that the suspect fired his gun around 11:20 p.m. on January 10.
Meanwhile, Solis said the Regional Joint Security Control Center composed of the Comelec, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines has been activated.
During their meeting on January 8, they initially discussed the identification of the election watchlist of areas (EWAS).
“I could not disclose yet (the areas) considering that we are still waiting for a resolution from the Regional Joint Security Control Center to approve the existing EWAS,” Solis said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
