STA. CRUZ, Davao Del Sur, Philippines?President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the police to conduct a massive search in villages for illegal firearms starting in November, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said here on Thursday.

Puno, who attended the Southern Mindanao peace and order council meeting, said he also ordered volunteers in various villages to help the police in conducting the massive search, which will start as soon as the amnesty for illegal firearms holders expires on October 31.

?All persons carrying unlicensed firearms will be arrested and prosecuted after October 31,? he said.

He said the campaign was aimed at making the 2010 elections violence-free.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) had attributed election violence to the proliferation of loose firearms.

?This is not martial law but we have to search the villages because this will help [maintain] peace and order, especially during the coming elections,? Puno said.

He estimated that there are more than a million loose firearms in the country.

?Half of these have expired licenses or [are] unregistered, while the other half is currently in the hands of threat groups, criminal elements, and unauthorized individuals all over the country, including Mindanao,? Puno said.

He said in Sulu, for example, which is identified as one of the areas with a large number of loose firearms, at least 2,500 police volunteers have been deputized for the search.

Puno said auxiliary police members will be issued mission orders so they could help in the campaign.

Shortly after Puno?s arrival here, two persons, including a village chief, were arrested for carrying unlicensed guns, Senior Inspector Daniel Lauda, of the Traffic Management Group, said.

Lauda said Rodolfo Uy, village chairman of Pong-pong in Sta. Maria town, yielded a .45 cal. pistol when frisked at a mobile checkpoint in Hagonoy town.

In the village of Sinawilan in Digos City, a militiaman was also arrested when he could not show documents in connection with the .38 cal. revolver found in his possession.

Chief Superintendent Pedro Tango, Southern Mindanao police director, said he already met with police commanders in connection with the intensified anti-illegal firearms campaign in November.

Tango said government officials, soldiers, policemen, and militiamen would not be spared from the campaign.

?After the last day and beyond the gun amnesty period, there will be a serious enforcement of the law against loose firearms. Those who fail to avail themselves of the program will go to jail,? Puno said.

He warned holders of illegal firearms that there will be no more amnesty after October 31.