CEBU, Philippines — Police have recovered 13 firearms and arrested two people in the first two hours of the implementation of the election gun ban that started Sunday.
Police Regional Office -7 Director Debold Sinas said the two arrested in Daanbantayan town in Cebu and Panglao town in Bohol.
“The rest surrendered - katong mga na paso na nga lisensya. Katong uban, gipang-surrender nalang nila mao tong ang among gi-report mga surrendered firearms lang,” Sinas explained.
Richard Monsanto, 41, from Medellin town was arrested at a checkpoint manned by the Daanbantayan police in Barangay Aguho last Sunday dawn.
Police recovered a caliber 45 firearm with live bullets from Monsanto.
Monsanto reportedly claimed he is a security escort of a politician from Northern Cebu.
Cebu Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon has denied that Monsanto is his security aide.
"Dili gyud na siya nako security aide. Bisan kausa, not even once wala gyud na nako siya nahimong security aide," Salimbangon told The Freeman.
"Kaning tawhana, iyaha lang nang gi-name drop akong pangalan aron dili siya madakpan, pero ang tinud-anay ani, dili na nako siya security escort," Salimbangon said.
"Bahala na ang mga polis mopasaka og kaso ilang nadakpan," he added.
Sinas encouraged owners of guns with expired licenses to hand their firearms over to authorities.
The election gun ban is effective from January 13 to June 12 of this year. — Imarie Jane D. Madarieta (FREEMAN)