PRO 6 scores 18 arrests in initial implementation of Comelec gun ban
Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 recorded 18 arrests in just 18 days in its implementation of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 7764, which provides the rules and regulations on bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons.
In the said accomplishments, Iloilo Police Provincial Office scored the most with six arrests followed by Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office with three arrests; Capiz and Guimaras Provincial Police Offices, and Iloilo City and Bacolod City Police Offices recorded two arrests, respectively; and, Aklan Police Provincial Office with one arrest made.
Relatedly, two members of the Philippine Army were arrested for the said offense: SSgt Edwin Demontano y Soliban assigned at 524 Engineering Construction Battalion (ECB) located at Panaad Park, Mansilingan, Bacolod City and PFC Delkin Roca y Jison assigned at 11th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army based at La Carlota City, Negros Occidental on January 16 and 21, 2007, respectively. The former was arrested by elements of Bacolod City Police Station 3 after Daniel Sarroza y Tiempo, Security Guard of PSG Security Agency detailed at Robinson's Place, Mandalagan, Bacolod City confiscated two fragmented hand grenades in his possession and control, while the latter was in possession and control of one Caliber 9MM pistol with four live ammunitions when the joint elements of Kabankalan City Police Station and 6th Regional Mobile Group arrested him in a checkpoint operations at Rizal St, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
A total of nine cases were already filed in court while others are still being prepared for filing.
The campaign against any violation of the Comelec Gun Ban will be in effect throughout the duration of election period, which started last January 14 until June 13, 2007.
All police units in the region are intensifying their checkpoint/chokepoint operations and visibility patrol to pre-empt any election-related violent incidents to transpire in their respective AORs with the use of firearms and other deadly weapons.
Relatively, Police Chief Superintendent Wilfredo V. Dulay SR., PRO 6 Regional Director, reiterated earlier the pronouncement that any person who will be caught for violation of Comelec Gun Ban shall be charged with separate cases under Section 261 of Batas Pambansa Blg 881 (Omnibus Election Code) and Section 1 of Republic Act No. 8294 or An Act Amending Presidential Decree No. 1866, respectively. Same shall also apply to persons arrested for commission of crimes wherein a case shall be filed for violation of the Omnibus Election Code separate from the case for violation of the Revised Penal Code.