Election gun ban violations up to 113
The police force in the region are taking all possible means to preempt violence this coming election by intensifying the enforcement of ban against loose firearms and deadly weapons without the necessary permit.
This effort already resulted in the arrest of 113 persons, confiscation of 127 firearms and filing of 98 cases against the violators.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 director Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay Sr. said the conduct of checkpoints/chokepoints operations, visibility patrol, and the implementation of "Oplan Bakal" led to this impressive statistics.
Dulay also named Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and Iloilo Police Provincial Office as top performers in the campaign having delivered 23 arrested persons each.
Capiz Police Provincial Office came next with 16 arrested persons followed by Aklan Police Provincial Office with 15 arrested persons.
Bacolod City Police Office netted 13 arrested persons, Iloilo City Police Provincial Office with 12 arrested persons, Antique Police Provincial Office with 7 and Guimaras Police Provincial Office with 4 arrested persons.
"We are expecting more arrests as election day comes closer for we cannot discount the possibility that some politicians will be employing guns and goons to advance their personal interests," Dulay said.
Meanwhile, Supt Ruperto Floro, OIC of Regional Operations and Plans Division, reported that the 127 confiscated firearms in violation of gun ban are also part of 245 loose firearms recovered from January 1 to April 25, 2006.
"While there were 98 cases filed in connection with the enforcement of Comelec gun ban, 127 cases were also filed in violation of Republic Act 8294 or illegal possession of firearms," he said.
(PIO-PRO6)