Aklan PNP: Gun ban campaign intensifies with 24/7 checkpoints
KALIBO, Aklan — The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) has intensified its campaign on gun ban violators by establishing 24/7 checkpoints across the province.
Senior Superintendent Epifanio Bragais, Jr. said all police stations in the province are conducting regular checkpoints in strategic areas based on the weekly checkpoint plan in coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Comelec gun ban, he said, netted six violators, of the number four civilians were apprehended in checkpoints in the towns of Malay, Nabas, Numancia and Kalibo. The gun ban violators faced charges for violations of Comelec Resolution No. 8714 which prohibits the carrying of firearms, deadly weapons and explosives by private individuals from January 10, 2010 to June 9, 2010.
Bragais said a police officer was also caught carrying his firearm in civilian clothes in the height of Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival last month and was taken into custody for violating the gun ban. Another case filed against a jail officer for the same offense, however, was dismissed by the Aklan Prosecutor’s Office.
“Tuloy tuloy ang ating pagpapatupad ng Comelec checkpoints. Lalo pa nating paiigtingin ang checkpoints hanggang matapos ang election period,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Bragais reminded all those personnel manning the Comelec checkpoints to be courteous in conducting searches, stressing, the need to respect the rights of motorists. The provincial director also said they had no information of the existence of armed groups maintained by politicians in the province.
