6 gun ban violators detained

CHECKPOINT activities related to gun ban yielded six apprehensions in Negros Occidental, including an engineer from Bacolod City, a police report said.

Collared at 2:10 p.m. Sunday in Bacolod City by operatives of Bacolod City Police Office Police Station 6 led by Police Senior Inspector Ulysses Ortiz was Engineer Antonio De Jesus, 50, single, a resident of Purok Katilingban in Barangay Alijis, this city. He was intercepted along Hernaez Street where a checkpoint inspection was conducted.

De Jesus failed to present documents after a Glock .45 Caliber Pistol with serial number KMP 831, three magazines and 22 live ammunitions were recovered in his vehicle's compartment.

An illegal possession of firearms will be filed against De Jesus per Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 8714 or the Election Gun Ban. He is now detained at the lock up cell of Police Station 6.

The gun ban was pursuant to Comelec Resolution 8729, which orders the establishment of at least one Comelec Joint Security Control Centers (JSCC) checkpoint in each city or municipality to ensure strict enforcement of the nationwide gun ban and other prohibited acts during the 150-day election period from January 10, 2010 to June 9, 2010.

Four other persons were also arrested in Talisay City, Manapla, Toboso, and Sagay City, all in northern Negros Occidental, a report from the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (Noppo) said.

Police Chief Inspector Rico Santotome Jr., spokesperson of the Negros Occidental PNP, said the suspects were apprehended for possessing firearms despite the gun ban.

Arrested in Talisay City was Tiburcio Rosil of Barangay Matab-ang.

He was caught by combined elements of the 6th Regional Mobile Group and Talisay City PNP led by Police Chief Inspector Jacob Crisostomo in a checkpoint operation.

A homemade shotgun was recovered from his possession Sunday morning while he was passing through a PNP checkpoint along the national highway in Barangay 16 in Talisay City.

In Manapla, Rey Lacerna was arrested by local policemen led by Police Inspector Edencio Gregorio in Barangay Punta Mesa of the town after his wife complained to the local PNP station of the latter's physical abuses on her.

Lacerna's wife endorsed one homemade caliber .38 revolver to Gregorio while responding policemen arrested the suspect who is now detained at the local PNP station, Santotome said.

In Toboso town, policemen led by Police Inspector Mateo Maguate collared Dario Dalin for possessing a caliber .45 pistol, also in violation of the ban.

Further, the Philippine Army and the Sagay City PNP nabbed Giovanni Tepino while responding to a call for police assistance in Barangay Puey for possession of one homemade shotgun and one caliber .38 revolver.

Charges are being readied against the four suspects who are all detained for violation of Republic Act 8294 or Illegal Possession of Firearms, Ammunitions and Explosives in relation to the firearms ban.

Noppo director Police Senior Superintendent Manuel Felix commended police personnel in Negros Occidental for their accomplishments on the first day of the gun ban and further encouraged others to emulate their fellow PNP personnel to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the 2010 national and local polls.

Likewise, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo A Espina advised motorists to slowdown and dim car headlights and turn on cabin lights when approaching checkpoints at night.

He also advised motorists to have vehicle and personal documents ready for inspection when requested by authorities, said PO1 Jared Esquilla.

Watchlist

Negros Occidental, Iloilo, and Antique provinces in Western Visayas region have been placed under close watch by the PNP for the presence of private armed groups.

Senator Pia Cayetano who visited Negros Occidental and other cities in the province Monday discouraged the idea of private army "because it would lead to abuse like what happened in Maguindanao."

This developed as C/Superintendent Isagani Cuevas, regional director of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) based at Camp Martin Delgado, said the PNP will further intensify its campaign against lawless elements without fear or favor to dismantle these private armies, particularly with the start of the gun ban and election period throughout the country.

He said the PNP in the region is doing a close monitoring on the reported existence of armed groups in Antique with alleged participation of former rebels from Negros island.

The Antique Police Provincial Office (Appo) has identified seven municipalities placed under the election watchlist of the Comelec as Anini-y, Libertad, Lawaan, San Remigio, Sibalom and two other areas in the province owing to its history in political violence and insurgency.

In Negros Occidental, Chief Inspector Rico Santotome, Public Information Officer of Noppo, said they are also having a close watch in two election areas of concern in the province following the reported information on the presence of private armed groups being maintained by some politicians.

The Noppo said these election areas of concern are Escalante City and Pulupandan, where election-related violence, presence of rebel insurgents and intense political rivalry were reported during the 2007 elections.

Meanwhile, the military authorities in the region have the watchlist of politicians reported to be hiring the services of rebels as bodyguards for the 2010 elections.

Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, public information officer of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division (3ID), Philippine Army based at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz, said they have already placed these politicians under close watch and vowed that the military in the region would initiate proper measures against them just to maintain a clean, peaceful and honest 2010 elections. (GMD/With PNA)

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