CAMP FLORENDO, La Union, Philippines – Six civilians were arrested by police operatives here for violating the gun ban in connection with the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Oct. 25.
Superintendent Raul Romero, chief of the public information office here, said that policemen confiscated from the arrested persons two firearms, two airsoft guns and two bladed weapons (knives).
“The six gun ban violators were apprehended through the intensified checkpoint operations being conducted in various areas of the Ilocos region,” Romero said.
The gun ban started on Sept. 25 and will end on Nov. 10.
Romero said the establishment of checkpoints in strategic areas all over the region as part of the security measures is in coordination with officials of the Commission on Elections.
“As in previous elections, the police was deputized by the Comelec to implement the gun ban and perform other election-related activities,” he said.
Romero said members of the Police Regional Office 1 command group led by Ilocos police director Chief Superintendent Orlando Mabutas has been spearheading the regular on-the-spot inspection of established checkpoints throughout the region.
“The command group led by our regional director and the provincial directors of the four police provincial offices in Region 1 individually conduct inspections to personally check on the personnel on the ground. This is to make certain that they get the needed support and also to confirm their adherence to prescribed checkpoint procedures,” he said.