TWO persons were arrested in Eastern Visayas in relation to the gun ban as the 2022 election period officially kicked off Sunday, January 9, 2022.
The violators were identified as Raul Morillo, 46, married, painter, and a resident of Isabel, Leyte; and Wilmar Casarino, 21, single, farmer, and a resident of Taft, Eastern Samar.
Seized items from the suspects were one caliber 357 “paltik” revolver without markings and serial number loaded with six live ammunition of caliber 5.56 mm and seven extra bullets of caliber 5.56 mm, and one .22 caliber rifle with no serial number.
“Eastern Visayas cops will be more unsparing to anyone caught bearing firearm or other deadly weapons without valid permits and most importantly the Certificate of Authority or secured permission from the Comelec’s committee," said Brigadier General Rommel Bernardo Cabagnot, police regional director.
The official said they established 247 Commission on Elections checkpoints and deployed a total of 2,394 police personnel.
"This imposes stricter security protocols relative to the rules and regulations on carrying firearms and other deadly weapons,” Cabagnot added.
Meanwhile, the arrested persons were brought to their respective arresting police stations for documentation and proper disposition. (SunStar Philippines)