POLICE Regional Office (PRO)-Central Luzon operatives apprehended four personalities for violation of the gun ban as the measure’s implementation marked its first day over the weekend.

PRO-Central Luzon director Joel Coronel said the violators were apprehended at checkpoints installed all over the region as part of the preparations for the upcoming elections.

The gun ban, which was simultaneously imposed during the official launch of the campaign season on January 13 up to June 12 this year, prohibits gun owners from carrying or transporting their firearms unless authorized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Aside from the apprehended gun ban violators, Coronel said five firearms were also seized from two alleged motorcycle-riding criminals who were intercepted in other checkpoints in the region.

The said suspects, whom police did not identify, were shot dead after allegedly engaging in a firefight with police operatives as they tried to elude the checkpoint.

Meanwhile, Coronel said that a total of 151 simultaneous checkpoints were established across the region at the start of the election season, and will be sustained to intensify election security operations.

“Aside from apprehending gun violators, Comelec checkpoints have also proven effective in the police’s anti-criminality and gun control campaign particularly against syndicated crime groups, local insurgents and holders of loose firearms in the previous elections,” Coronel said.