COTABATO CITY – Operatives of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police have seized 10 firearms from individuals caught violating the gun ban being imposed by the Commission on Elections throughout the ARMM.
The ARMM, which covers the cities of Lamitan and Marawi, and the scattered provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan and Lanao del Sur, will hold its sixth regional elections on Aug. 11.
Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, director of the ARMM police, said the violators of the gun ban have been charged with corresponding cases and are now awaiting prosecution by the poll body.
Goltiao said of the 10 violators, four were nabbed in Sulu, four in Lanao del Sur and one each in Shariff Kabunsuan and Basilan.
“The figures are so low this time and we in the PNP-ARMM are convinced that we’re up for peaceful and orderly elections on August 11,” Goltiao told reporters.
The Comelec’s enforcement of the gun ban in the autonomous region started May 28. – John Unson