CEBU, Philippines – Six persons were arrested in the different parts of Cebu province and an abandoned firearm was recovered within five days since the Commission on Elections implements a total gun ban for the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on October 25.
A report from the Cebu Provincial Police Office said violators were from Toledo City, Naga, Carcar, Bogo, Barili, and Moalboal.
On the first day of the gun ban, Toledo City police arrested Mark Anthony "Tonton" Pahagahas for possessing a .22 caliber revolver with two live ammunitions and one empty shell that was allegedly used in shooting Armand Francisco Patiño last Saturday dawn. In another incident, Alexander Ypil Indac, was arrested for having an improvised shotgun or "pugakhang."
On the same day, elements of Barili Police Station recovered an abandoned defective .38 paltik revolver on the ground after responding to a trouble alarm. Police also arrested one Roel Altamarino Salarde, 24, for causing commotion and having a .38 revolver with four live ammunitions and one spent shell.
The following day, Bogo City Police Station arrested a 17-year-old boy for having a .38 revolver with four live ammunitions and a kitchen knife measuring seven and a half inches.
In Carcar City, police officers were able to recover one .45 caliber pistol with four live ammunitions from Agapito Lauron, 52, farmer and another .45 caliber with ten live ammunitions from Ronalito Librando, 26.
In Naga, Mercy Resomadero, 30, voluntarily surrendered one .38 revolver and one empty shell to the police station.
Sr. Supt. Erson Digal, director of CPPO said they are conducting an intensive checkpoint in line with the Comelec gun ban. (FREEMAN)