No gun ban violators in Oro

FOR more than a week since the implementation of the gun ban by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) said Monday it has not yet apprehended any gun ban violators.

City Police Director Graciano Mijares said he is thankful with this development, which he attributed to the strict campaign and information dissemination of the Philippine National Police, as well as members of the media.

However, he said there were at least seven undocumented firearms surrendered to them by the owners.

CHECKPOINT. Police personnel assigned at the Macasandig Police Station flag down motorists in a checkpoint set up under the Commission on Election’s gun ban implementation. (Joey P. Nacalaban)

“Some of the firearms surrendered have expired licenses,” Mijares said.

Mijares also deployed some 800 police personnel to secure crowded places like terminals, seaports, airport, malls, churches and other areas where people converge.

Mijares said these law enforcers will also conduct foot patrol and checkpoint operations to ensure public safety.

Meanwhile, elements of Talakag Municipal Police Station in Bukidnon arrested one Jojo S. Himanan, 19, a resident of Sitio Tinaytayan, San Miguel, Talakag Bukidnon, for violation of the Comelec gun ban.

Himanan was arrested over the weekend while the police were conducting mobile patrol in the area.

Confiscated from his possession was a homemade shotgun with five live ammunitions.

Himanan is now detained at the detention facility of Talakag Municipal Station while the firearm was turned over to the Regional Crime Laboratory for ballistic examination.