Man who violated Comelec gun ban charged in court

CEBU, Philippines - A man in possession of a gun was charged before the Regional Trial Court yesterday for violating Comelec Resolution no. 8714 or the Comelec Gun Ban.

Facing charges is Ricky Cabrera Abarca of Concepcion Street, barangay Pasil. He was arrested last January 14 in barangay Suba. SPO1 Roger Sering and PO2 Mark Pateño proceeded to Magsaysay Street that day after they received a call from a concerned citizen about an armed person in the area.

The responding policemen saw Cabrera with the .38 Armscor revolver with two live bullets tucked on his waist, but was forced to arrest him after he failed to show a license for the gun.

Prosecutors recommended a P12,000 for Cabrera’s temporary liberty.

The nationwide gun ban took effect last January 10 and will last until June 9. It is implemented in connection with the May 2010 elections.

The Comelec, however, exempted members of the Citizens’ Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) from the ban.

Through Resolution 8742, the poll body decided to allow Cafgu members to carry firearms during the election period since they are auxiliary units of the military, which is also exempted from the gun ban.

The military, for its part, vowed strict compliance to the ban, saying violators within its ranks - Cafgus included - will be dealt with accordingly.

Aside from Cafgu members, also exempted from the gun ban are the Presidential Security Group, Bureau of Fire Protection, security forces of the Optical Media Board, and security personnel of accredited foreign diplomatic corps. – Jasmin U. Labaco/JMO (THE FREEMAN)