82 more gun ban violations push total to 3,057 — PNP

LANAO DEL NORTE SEIZURES The Army says military and police teams have seized these firearms, explosives and other items from six men who were accosted at a Comelec checkpoint on Tuesday afternoon at Barangay Tagulo, Sultan Naga Dimaporo town, in Lanao del Norte province. —Photo courtesy of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The total number of gun ban violations from January 9 up to May 15, or a week after the 2022 national and local elections, is now at 3,057 according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Data shared by the PNP Public Information Office (PNP-PIO) on Sunday showed that from the eve of election day, 82 more violations were recorded, as the total on early morning of May 9 was just at 2,975.

All in all, a total of 3,265 individuals were arrested during the 3,057 operations, with civilians comprising a huge chunk of those arrested at 3,134.

Also arrested were 23 members of the PNP, and 22 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Also arrested were 60 security guards, and 60 others from other sectors.

At least 2,527 firearms were confiscated, including 2,136 small firearms, 84 light weapons or rifles, 94 firearm parts, 145 replicas, and 68 other unknown firearms.

Also seized were 1,051 bladed weapons, 131 explosives and 15,758 rounds of ammunition.

The PNP said that the National Capital Region (NCR) had the most number of gun ban violations and violators with  1,097 violations and 1,167 arrested.  Meanwhile, 362 gun ban violations were recorded in the Central Visayas, 340 in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) region, 227 in Central Luzon, and 195 in the Western Visayas.

Following the NCR in the number of arrested violators are Calabarzon (335), the Central Visayas (302), Central Luzon (302), and Western Visayas (194).

Both the PNP and AFP have concluded that the 2022 election season was generally peaceful, but several violent incidents were still recorded such as the explosions near the municipal hall of Datu Unsay in Maguindanao on the eve of the polls which left eight hurt.

Also on election day, armed men inside two white vans opened fire just outside the Pilot Elementary School in Buluan, Maguindanao, leaving three members of a barangay peacekeeping action team (BPAT) dead.

READ: 3 killed, one hurt in gun attack near polling precinct in Maguindanao town

READ: AFP, PNP deem conduct of May 9 polls ‘good’, ‘generally peaceful’

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10741, the Omnibus Election Code-mandated gun ban started last January 9 or a full month before the campaign season for the national elections.  It will last until June 8, or a month after the May 9 general elections.

READ: Gun ban on as election period begins

/MUF