Cops nab 311 BSKE gun ban violators in Calabarzon

LUCENA CITY — The Philippine National Police in the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (Calabarzon) region on Saturday said at least 311 persons had been arrested for violating the gun ban and carrying deadly weapons, which are offenses during the election period for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) set on October 30.

The arrested violators, logged from August 28 to October 28 at 8 a.m., had all been charged with violating the provision in the Omnibus Election Code that prohibits the unauthorized carrying or transporting of firearms and deadly weapons outside residences, businesses, and public places, the Police Regional Office-4A (PRO-4A) said in an accomplishment report.

The gun ban, which started on August 28, will remain in effect until November 29, while the campaign period has been set from October 19 to 28.

The law enforcers confiscated 218 assorted firearms and 28 “gun replicas” including toy guys, airguns and airsoft guns, and other imitations of firearms.

The gun replicas are usually carried to instill fear among rival election candidates and their supporters, according to the police.

The police reported that 181 bladed weapons were also confiscated and 192 documented firearms had been deposited by their owners for safekeeping by local police stations during the said period.

The PRO-4A reported that a total of 9,480 policemen will be deployed in voting centers/precincts, canvassing areas, and other facilities by the Commission on Elections for the BSKE.

From this number, others will serve as convoy, quick reaction teams, Special Weapons and Tactics, route security, reactionary standby support force, and will man the Comelec checkpoints throughout the region.

A total of 1,722 augmented personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Municipal and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, and the Public Order and Safety Office will also be deployed.

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