FOUR persons were killed and 25 others were arrested during the first day of implementation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban, which has been implemented as part of security measures for the May elections.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said 4,447 checkpoint operations were conducted in strategic areas nationwide. During these checkpoints, 25 persons were arrested and 27 firearms, 168 rounds of ammunition, seven bladed weapons, 22 gun replica, 70 sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) and two glass pipe with suspected marijuana were confiscated.

"The first day of the election period may be considered generally peaceful yet it depicts that violent incidents may still occur due to the number of confiscated and seized firearms," Albayalde said.

In Bulacan, one hour after the gun ban was implemented, two motorcycle riders were killed after they allegedly sped off and tried to avoid a Comelec checkpoint in Barangay Graceville, San Jose Del Monte town.

Policemen chased the motorcycle riders, resulting in a gunfight.

“Nung nasukol na sila dito ay inabandon nila (ang motor), bumaba sila ng motor at tangkang patakas habang pinuputukan ang ating mga papalapit na operatiba,” Bulacan Police Provincial Office Chief Chito Bersaluna said.

Recovered from the slain riders were a caliber .38 revolver and a caliber .45 pistol.

Around 5 a.m. Sunday, January 13, a shootout between policemen and a man ensued in a Comelec checkpoint in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.

The incident resulted in the killing of the suspect, who yielded a homemade gun.

In Gapan City, one of two motorcycle-riding thieves was killed after allegedly trying to avoid a checkpoint established in Barangay Sto. Cristo Norte after authorities received information about a motorcycle-napping incident.

Aside from the stolen motorcycle, suspected illegal drugs and a caliber .38 revolver were recovered from the thieves.

The gun ban implementation started at 12:01 of January 13 and it will end on June 12.

During the nationwide gun ban, carrying of firearms and explosives outside a residence is prohibited, while processing of licenses for gun owners is also suspended.

Only the on-duty policemen, soldiers and other law enforcers are exempted from the gun ban, which seeks to prevent unlawful elements, such as private armed groups and gun-for-hire groups, from intimidating, injuring or killing anyone during the election season.

Through the conduct of checkpoints, the PNP seeks to intercept guns, explosives and other instruments of violence.

In the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm), where a forthcoming plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law will be held before the May 2019 elections, the PNP conducted 518 checkpoint operations in addition to the eight more joint checkpoints with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

A person, with an unregistered caliber .38 revolver with two rounds of live ammunition, was arrested upon inspection in a checkpoint in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi on Sunday, January 13.

“Based on our assessment, the Martial Law in Mindanao significantly decreased the proliferation of firearms in the region, but it should not be taken for granted considering that the most number of loose firearms are in that area,” said Albayalde. (SunStar Philippines)