1 held for gun ban violation

CEBU CITY—He claimed it slipped his mind that the election gun ban already started.

Jetlee Patayan, 24, and a resident of Mandaue City, was arrested for bringing his firearm inside a videoke joint in Mandaue City at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, half an hour after the gun ban was implemented in preparation for the Oct. 28 barangay (village) election.

Patayan, who was detained at Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Station 3 detention cell, was the first person to be arrested for violating the election gun ban, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday.

SPO1 Gregorio Cabisares, desk officer of the MCPO Station 3, said they got a call from a concerned citizen that a man wearing a pair of black shorts and a T-shirt had a gun tucked in his waist.

Senior Insp. Genilo Veraque, MCPO Station 3 chief, and his men went to a videoke joint in Barangay Pagsabungan, Mandaue City, to verify the tip.

When they entered the establishment, Patayan tried to pull out his gun but was immediately subdued and arrested, Cabisares said.

Seized from Patayan was a .38 cal. revolver with 5 live bullets.

Asked why he brought his gun inside the videoke joint, Patayan said it was to protect himself from his enemies.

Besides, he added, he also didn’t know that the gun ban is already in effect.

Cabisares said that since Patayan could not present a license for his gun, he would be charged with violation of the election gun ban and illegal possession of a firearm.

The police identified 27 barangays in Negros Oriental and one in Siquijor as possible election watch-list areas (Ewas) in the upcoming barangay elections.

A barangay is placed under Ewas if there is intense political rivalry, previous election-related violence or the presence of armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army or goons of politicians.

During a recent Regional Joint Security Control Center meeting, Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, chief of Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, said the number of barangays under Ewas could change, depending on the police evaluation.

He added the police would put up checkpoints to implement the Commission on Elections gun ban.