Gun ban stays up to June 12

MANILA, Philippines - The midterm elections may be over but the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will continue implementing the gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Metro Manila.

NCRPO chief Director Leonardo Espina yesterday said the gun ban remains in effect until the end of the election period on June 12.

Espina acknowledged the success of Secure and Fair Election (SAFE 2013) all over the metropolis.

He congratulated police personnel assigned to polling precincts as he attributed the overall success of their security operation to the collective efforts and cooperation of the public, local government security forces, and other government agencies.

“Hence, NCRPO is motivated even more to exert efforts in maintaining peace and order in the metropolis,” Espina said.

He ordered his five district directors in Metro Manila to continue the implementation of anti-criminality checkpoints.

Espina said the intensified campaign against loose firearms and serving of search warrants against gun-for-hire and private armed groups prevented violence in the metropolis during the elections.

Records showed that the NCRPO conducted 8,222 checkpoints all over Metro Manila since Jan. 13, resulting in the arrest of 669 persons and confiscation of 333 firearms, 24 hand grenades, and 324 deadly weapons.

Three days after the May 13 elections, the Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center is at its peak in the implementation of Republic Act 8294 or illegal possession of firearms and Batas Pambansa 881, otherwise known as the Omnibus Election Code.