Gov't authorities net 20 more gun ban violators

MANILA, March 9 (PNA) -– Government authorities on Sunday arrested 20 more violators of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) imposed total gun ban during nationwide checkpoint operations, a ranking police official said Monday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina said that records from the National Election Monitoring and Action Center (NEMAC) showed that the 20 latest violators, composed of 19 civilians and a government personnel, yielded two high-powered and 10 low-powered firearms during actual inspection.

Espina also said that combined PNP and military elements, supervised by Comelec representatives, also confiscated one gun replica and seven various types of bladed weapons from the violators.

Latest NEMAC reports showed that a total of 1,294 individuals – 1,134 civilians and 160 government personnel – had been arrested since the Comelec ordered the implementation of the nationwide total gun ban last January 10 when election period started.

A total of 1,117 firearms, composed of 414 high-powered and 703 low-powered; 798 different gun replicas, 304 bladed weapons and 218 various types of explosives had been confiscated from the violators.

The Comelec, through Resolution 8714, has ordered the implementation of nationwide, total gun ban as part of the government’s step up measures to maintain honest, orderly and peaceful elections in May.

Under Comelec Resolution 8714, only bonafide members of the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other government and accredited private security agencies are allowed to carry firearms during actual performance of their duty and wearing proper uniform.

Aside from the total gun, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also ordered the PNP and AFP to dismantle all private armed groups (PAGs) operating in the country to prevent election-related violence. (PNA)
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