Day One of election gun ban: 4 arrested

Four people were arrested on the first day yesterday of the gun ban implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in connection with the May 12 midterm elections, according to the initial record of the Philippine National Police.

- By MAYEN JAYMALIN

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said the arrests were recorded at checkpoints established in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Soccsksargen, Western Visayas and Central Luzon.

Marbil added that the PNP would revoke the licenses of those arrested for election gun ban violation.

"We will revoke your license and you will no longer be able to carry a gun for life," he said.

Given the effectivity of the election period and the gun ban at midnight yesterday, the PNP, upon the approval of the Comelec, had already set up over 1,400 checkpoints nationwide, according to the PNP chief.

At the Comelec Command Center, incidents of gun ban violations in Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Iloilo and Cainta, Rizal were reported.

"There really are some stubborn people. Knowing that there are checkpoints, they still carried guns. The Comelec is really being tested," Comelec Chairman George Garcia said yesterday.

Garcia added that those arrested for violating the gun ban face election offense charges with the penalty of one to six years of imprisonment, aside from violation of firearms law.

He stressed that even security details of government officials need to secure exemption from the Comelec.

"If the security details do not have relevant exemptions, that government official will be held responsible," he said.

Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino said they have issued 1,131 certificates of exemptions to individual gun owners and security agencies, so far.

Ferolino added that those qualified may still apply for gun ban exemption online until two weeks before the end of the election period in June.

At the ceremonial launch of Comelec checkpoints yesterday, Garcia assured the public that gun ban would be enforced with transparency and impartiality.

He further assured law enforcers that the Comelec would be behind them as long as they are rightfully enforcing their tasks.