19 gun ban violators recorded in Negros

THE Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (Noppo) reported that 19 gun ban violators in the province were already charged.

The latest to be apprehended were Silverio Solina in Himamaylan City, Jovy Garol and Alfonso Banzuelo in Kabankalan City.

Solina was nabbed in a checkpoint operation last March 1 at Sitio Mohon in Barangay 1, Himamaylan City and a caliber 357 revolver was recovered from him.

Garols was collared by local police officers who were serving an arrest warrant to him. A caliber .38 revolver was recovered from his possession when he was arrested inside the city's public market last March 2.

Police Superintendent Calixto Mabugat, police chief of Kabankalan City, reported the apprehension of security guard Banzuelo, who was collared in Barangay Hilamonan last Saturday for possession of caliber .38 revolver.

Noppo records also revealed that as of March 8, six caliber .38 revolvers were recovered, along with three caliber .45 pistols, three improvised shotguns, one caliber .22 revolver, two caliber 357 firearms, two shotguns and two improvised 5.56 firearms, for a grand total of 19 guns.

Noppo Director Celestino Guara Jr. has issued orders to his 31 police chiefs in the province to intensify checkpoint operations to deter the proliferation of firearms in Negros in preparation for the May 13 elections. (TDE)