Tuesday, March 06, 2007 Gun ban nets 55 arrests in Western Visayas
THE implementation of the Comelec gun ban resulted in the arrest of 55 persons since the start of the campaign on January 14, a police report said.
Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay Sr, Police Regional Office 6 director, said that most of the arrests were results of checkpoint operations put up jointly by the police and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The Negros Occidental and Iloilo Police Provincial Offices topped the record with 12 arrested persons each; Bacolod City Police Office with eight arrested persons; Iloilo City Police Office with six arrested persons; Antique Police Provincial Office with five arrested persons; and, Aklan, Capiz and Guimaras Police Provincial Offices each with four arrested persons.
As of February 2007, 44 cases were already filed in court against the violators while seven are still being investigated.
The police also reportedly confiscated five high powered, 17 low powered, and 31 homemade firearms as well as two hand grenades and 190 live ammunition.
Dulay said more arrests are expected in the coming days as all police units in the region are intensifying checkpoint operations and visibility patrols as part of their duties to ensure honest, peaceful, orderly and credible elections. (Press release)
