Police seek early ban on guns in Masbate for 2013 elections

NAGA CITY—A year before the midterm elections in 2013, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Masbate is seeking the early suspension of gun-carrying privileges in the island-province to preempt election-related killings.

Senior Superintendent Heriberto Olitoquit, Masbate police director, said the provincial police would request PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome to impose an early gun ban in Masbate based on petitions made by several groups, among them the Liberal Party and the Masbate Advocates for Peace (MAP).

MAP is a Church-led group of volunteers credited with helping reduce the number of political killings in 2010 in the province.

Olitoquit said LP, MAP and other groups had cited the success of the firearms ban during the days leading to the general elections in 2010 as basis to demand an early ban on gun carrying.

The PNP chief has authority to order a gun ban, Olitoquit said.

He said the presence of armed groups and the possibly politically motivated killings of two men—Glenn John Dalanon in Placer town and Aldrin Arizobal in Dimasalang town in April—justify an early gun ban.

At least two mayors joined the call for an early gun ban.

Aroroy Mayor Enrico Capinig and Uson Mayor Felipe Sanchez said an early gun ban would protect the people of Masbate.

“Without guns, the elections would be peaceful,” said Sanchez in a text message.

Aroroy and Uson are among the most politically violent towns in Masbate.

During the elections in 2010, 21 political killings were reported in Uson alone, a poor town 22-kilometers southeast of the provincial capital Masbate City.

In the same period, 15 political killings were also reported in Aroroy, 30-km northwest of Masbate City.

The Masbate police have kept an eye on Uson and the towns of Dimasalang in the mainland and San Pascual and Claveria on Burias Island in its campaign against loose firearms.