A TOTAL OF 19 individuals have been arrested for violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban while five have been killed after resisting arrest during the police operation, a police officer said.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao Region spokesperson Police Chief Inspector Jason Baria said that the data from the regional election monitoring action center (Remac) is as of January 29 since gun ban was implemented last January 13. It will be lifted on June 12.
A total of 19 operations have been conducted through checkpoint, search warrant and police patrol or response while 26 firearms have been confiscated. Other recovered during operations are two grenades, six other explosives; 298 pieces ammunition; two bladed weapons and one replica.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, carrying, transporting of firearms outside his or her residence or place of business from January 13 to June 12 are prohibited since license to carry has been suspended during election period.
Under Section 32 of the Republic Act (RA) 7166 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, no person shall bear firearms in public places including any building, street, park, private vehicles, public conveyance, even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the Comelec through the certificate of authority from the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP).
Those who were arrested will be facing criminal cases for violations of Gun Ban, RA 10591 and illegal possession of explosives.