DILG says around 2,300 poll gun ban violators arrested since January 9

MANILA, Philippines — Around 2,300 election gun ban violators have been arrested by authorities since the prohibition was imposed last January 9, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported Monday.

“As of the last report ng ating kapulisan, meron nang mahigit kumulang na 2,300 ang ating kababayan na hinuli po at inaresto dahil po sila’y nag-violate ng election gun ban,” said DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing II in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(As of the last report of our police, more or less 2,300 individuals were caught and arrested because they violated the election gun ban.)

Densing advised the public to avoid bringing guns if it does not have an exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“So, sa ating mga kababayan… Sana po ‘wag ho kayong magdadala ng inyong baril kung wala po itong exemption mula sa Commission on Elections. Otherwise, kayo po’y huhulihin at ikukulong,” he warned.

(So, to my fellow citizens… I hope you do not bring your guns with you if you do not have an exemption from the Commission on Elections. Otherwise, you will be apprehended.)

Checkpoints

According to Densing, around 4,000 to 5,000 checkpoints were established across the country to make sure that the Comelec-imposed gun ban is being followed.

READ: 1,700 cops, soldiers to man gun ban checkpoints in Central Luzon

“Almost buong Pilipinas meron na ho tayong Comelec checkpoints. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, close to 4,000 checkpoints ay nabuo na ng ating Philippine National Police (PNP), at close to 5,000 kung isasama po natin ang joint checkpoint ng ating PNP at Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.

(Almost the entire Philippines has Comelec checkpoints. If I’m not mistaken, close to 4,000 checkpoints were installed by the Philippine National Police and close to 5,000 if we include the joint checkpoint of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines.)

Comelec’s gun ban will take effect until the end of the election period on June 8 in a bid to ensure peace and order in the coming May 9 polls.

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KGA