Policemen question a rider at a checkpoint in Leyte at the start of the election period on January 13, 2019. INQUIRER VISAYAS / ROBERT DEJON
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrested 32 of its own personnel and five members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in police operations focused on the elections in May.
The arrested lawmen and members of the military were among 3,105 persons arrested in 350,663 police operations since the start of the election period from January 13 to March 21, according to data released by the PNP on Thursday.
The PNP said majority of the operations were Commission on Elections checkpoints that have numbered 325,157.
“Hindi pinaliligtas ng ating checkpoints. Maging sila ay hinuhuli at properly recorded para sa investigation,” PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Bernard Banac said in a press conference in Camp Crame.
(They are not exempted from checkpoint operations. Even they are arrested and properly recorded for investigation.)
READ: As election fever rises, PNP starts setting up checkpoints
The PNP said those arrested included 2,924 civilians, 44 government officials, seven members of other law enforcement agencies, two jail officers, 57 security guards, two militiamen, three foreign nationals, 23 members of threat groups, and six members of private armed groups.
Police have also confiscated 2,603 firearms and 22,930 deadly weapons during the period.
Meanwhile, Banac reminded the public to comply with the election gun ban.
“Sa responsible gun owners, lahat ng hindi lisensyado na baril na hawak o may expired na baril na licensed ay mabuti na pansamantalang ilagak at i-surrender sa police stations for temporary custody and safekeeping. Dapat hindi hawak,” he said.
(To responsible gun owners, all unlicensed firearms or those with expired licenses are better brought and surrendered to police stations for temporary custody and safekeeping.)
“Kung valid pa [ang license], pwedeng itago sa safe na lalagyan pero hindi pwedeng ilabas at dalhin. Lahat ng permit to carry [firearms] ay kanselado. Walang renewal ng expired licenses [for now]… Pagkatapos ng election period pwede na ulit ang application for renewal,” Banac added.
(If the license is still valid, it should be kept in a safe place and not brought outside. All permit to carry firearms are canceled. There is no renewal of expired licenses for now. Application for renewal of licenses resumes after the election period.)
The 150-day election period ends on June 12. /cbb