NEARLY 2,500 persons were arrested amid the implementation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Colonel Bernard Banac said based on their record, a total of 2,473 persons were arrested for violating the gun ban.
The arrests were made during the conduct of 257,449 PNP-Comelec checkpoints nationwide from January 13 to 6 a.m. of March 8.
Of the arrested persons, 2,329 were civilians, 24 were members of the PNP, three from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 39 were either government employees or elected officials, 45 security guards, two personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, six members of other law enforcement agency, two personnel of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit, one foreign national, and 22 members of threat or private armed groups.
Banac said the PNP also served 485 search warrants and 33 arrest warrants during the said period.
He said a total of 2,039 firearms, including 1,553 small firearms, 41 light arms and 445 other improvised firearms, were confiscated during the operations.
Banac said 16,379 other deadly weapons, including 76 firearms replica, 819 bladed or pointed weapons, 127 grenade, 412 explosives, and 14,945 ammunition were seized.
The PNP is mandated to implement the nationwide gun ban through the conduct of checkpoints, which is part of security measures during the election period.
The election period started on January 13, Sunday, and will last until June. (SunStar Philippines)