CAMP GEN. SIMEON A. OLA, (PNA) -– A total of 3,484 checkpoints has been set up in the Bicol region since Sept. 28 up to Monday.
Chief Supt. Victor P. Deona, Police Regional Office 5 director, said Masbate has the biggest number with 1,025.
Albay follows, with 602; Sorsogon, 539; Camarines Norte, 430; Catanduanes, 368; Camarines Sur, 364; Regional Public Safety Battalion, 93 and Naga City, 62.
So far, these checkpoints have already arrested 33 persons, 18 of which were charged in court for violation of the Comelec sa gun ban.
Deona said the police have confiscated a total of 20 firearms, 15 bladed weapons and 164 explosives.
He added that these statistics were distributed as follows: Masbate – 10 arrested, 4 charged; Albay — 9 arrested, 6 charged; Camarines Norte — 6 arrested, 5 charged; Camarines Sur — 2 arrested, 1 charged; Sorsogon and Naga City — three each arrested, 1 each charged.
Meanwhile, five shooting incidents in Bicol were considered election-related.
The most recent was the ambush on the election officer of Palanas town in Masbate, Merlinda F. Alvarez, and her police escorts led by Sr. Inspector Baltazar L. Valenzuela.
The shooting wounded the convoy members who are now recuperating at the hospital.
Another incident involved the shooting of Pio V. Occidental, a candidate for barangay captain in Barangay Cypres in Polangui, Albay.
Other incidents took place in Pasacao, Camarines Sur and Gubat, Sorsogon.