Quezon City: A total of 971 individuals have been arrested for violating the gun ban since the election period commenced on January 12, as reported by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, PNP information chief Col. Randulf Tua±o revealed during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City that out of those arrested, 921 were civilians, based on data from the National Election Monitoring Action Center (NEMAC) as of February 16. Additionally, the violators included 22 security guards, eight Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel, and five PNP members.
The report indicated that the majority of these violations occurred in Metro Manila with 290 cases, followed by Central Luzon with 149 cases, and Calabarzon with 82 cases. To enforce the gun ban, the PNP has conducted 254,355 checkpoints in areas designated by the Commission on Elections.
Col. Tua±o emphasized the PNP's ongoing efforts to enforce strict measures against illegal firearms, aiming to prevent election-related violence and maintain peace and order throughout the country. These operations have resulted in the confiscation of 962 firearms.
The PNP has also recorded two suspected election-related incidents, one confirmed election-related crime, and 13 non-election-related incidents. Tua±o noted that police personnel often dress similarly to campaign rally participants to ensure safety during such events.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil reiterated the police force's commitment to a peaceful and credible electoral process. "The numbers speak for themselves. Our intensified operations are in full force and we will not let up. The PNP remains committed to safeguarding the electoral process by strictly enforcing the gun ban, neutralizing criminal activities, and preventing any attempts to disrupt the elections," Marbil stated.
He urged the public to remain vigilant, cooperate with authorities, and report any suspicious activities that could threaten the integrity of the May 12 midterm elections. Marbil also assured that the PNP remains strictly apolitical, with no member engaging in partisan activities during the election period.
In Central Luzon, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 has recovered 260 short firearms from January 10 to February 15 through its renewed 'Katok' (knock) campaign. PRO-3 chief Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo stated that Central Luzon officers are actively encouraging firearm holders to surrender loose and unrenewed firearms.
"We remind all gun owners to renew their firearm licenses or surrender their firearms for safekeeping. This is not just about compliance. It is about protecting lives and ensuring a peaceful electoral process," Fajardo explained. She assured that surrendered firearms are properly documented and secured, while providing assistance to firearm holders in meeting regulatory requirements.
