193 gun ban violators arrested so far

MANILA, Philippines – At least 193 violators, including policemen and military personnel, have been arrested in connection with the implementation of the total gun ban by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) since Jan. 10, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said 27 more were arrested Friday, most of them in Metro Manila.

Espina said it is impossible that those arrested, including 11 policemen and 13 military personnel, were not aware of the implementation of gun ban.

“I think it’s simply pure neglect and negligence,” Espina said during an interview in the weekly radio program “Para Sa Iyo Bayan” of Vice President Noli de Castro.

The Comelec issued Resolution 8714 imposing a nationwide total gun ban during the election period starting from Jan. 10, 2010 until June 9, 2010.

The PNP has deployed some 50,000 police officers in some 3,500 road checkpoints scattered all over the country.

Under Comelec Resolution 8646, the total gun ban includes various “prohibited acts” of civilians, police and military personnel who carry firearms without the corresponding exemption.

Members of the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other law enforcement agencies and PNP-accredited security agencies are exempt from the ban, provided that they are in proper uniform and on duty.

Under the total gun ban, all permits to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFORs) are suspended during the 150-day election period.

Under the total gun ban, only uniformed law enforcement personnel and uniformed military personnel on official duty are allowed to carry guns.

Law enforcement personnel and soldiers going to their places of assignments from their residences and back are also permitted to carry guns.

PNP chief for operations Director Andres Caro II said Friday that 166 persons have already been arrested since the gun ban was implemented nationwide.

Of the 166 arrested, 10 are policemen, 11 are from the military while another seven claim to be government officials or employees and the remaining 138 people are civilians, he said.