Cop faces gun ban, helmet raps

MANILA, Philippines - A National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) policeman was arrested in Malabon before dawn yesterday for allegedly violating the election gun ban and riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

Police Officer 1 Serwin Casauran will be charged with illegal possession of firearms and violating the Omnibus Election Code, a document signed by Senior Inspector Jaime Reyes Desiderio stated.

Casauran, 31, was allegedly riding a black motorcycle without a license plate when he was flagged down by law enforcers at a Commission on Elections checkpoint in Barangay Tonsuya about past 1 a.m.

Casauran, who was in civilian clothes, introduced himself as a member of NCRPO’s Regional Personnel Holding Administrative Unit.

When Desiderio asked for his identification card, Casauran started the engine of his motorcycle and tried to flee but was blocked by the police officers manning the checkpoint.

They frisked Casauran and found in his beltbag a Norin .45 caliber pistol and two magazines with five bullets. Casauran, however, “could not show any” permit to carry the gun, Desiderio said.

He added that Casauran was issued an ordinance violation receipt while charges are being readied against him.