400 guns seized since January in Ecija police drive vs loose firearms

Close to 400 weapons, nine of them high-powered firearms, were seized by the Nueva Ecija police since January. Some of the guns were displayed on April 13, the eve of the election gun ban. PHOTOS/Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon

CABANATUAN CITY – The Nueva Ecija police’s drive against loose firearms led to the seizure of 395 assorted guns, including high powered weapons, since the start of this year, the police said on Friday.

Senior Supt. Elideo Tanding, Nueva Ecija police director, said 386 weapons, and nine high-powered rifles, were either recovered from suspected criminals or were voluntarily surrendered by owners who failed to renew their licenses.

The weapons were presented to the media on the eve of a gun ban on Saturday (April 14), the start of the election period for the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14.

The police will set up election checkpoints in Nueva Ecija’s 27 towns and five cities, Tanding said.

Close to 400 weapons, nine of them high-powered firearms, were seized by the Nueva Ecija police since January. Some of the guns were displayed on April 13, the eve of the election gun ban. PHOTOS/Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon

He said the police will continue to knock on the doors of gun owners who have failed to renew their licenses to carry firearms.

Close to 400 weapons, nine of them high-powered firearms, were seized by the Nueva Ecija police since January. Some of the guns were displayed on April 13, the eve of the election gun ban. PHOTOS/Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon