Gun ban nets 'boga'

THE gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in preparation for voters’ registration in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) has netted a gas-generated combustion gun popularly known as "boga."

This developed as the local police force intensified the conduct of mobile checkpoints in compliance with the Comelec Resolution 9479, which took effect Sunday.

The resolution, promulgated on June 27, provides that the gun ban in the Armm will be from July 1 to 31 in connection with the new voters' listing, which is scheduled to be held from July 9 to 18.

The Police Station 3 reported that the boga was recovered around 11:30 p.m. Sunday along the highway of Manicahan village, 20 kilometers east of the city.

However, no one was arrested since the owner of the boga has "dropped the gun then ran toward dim and bushy portion of the area to evade arrest," the police said.

Aside from the Armm, the gun ban will be implemented in nearby non-Armm areas that include the cities of Cotabato, Isabela and Zamboanga and the provinces of Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudaray and Zamboanga del Sur.

Armm comprises of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. (Bong Garcia)