CAMP SEC. KANGLEON, Palo, (PNA) –The number of civilians apprehended by operatives of the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) reached the 70 mark Monday, with 40 firearms and other weapons also confiscated.
The 70 violators, all civilians, are now facing charges for violation of the Omnibus Election Code and could end up spending up to six years in prison, PRO8 director Police Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria said.
Soria said that of the figure, 44 violators were nabbed in police responses to calls for assistance while four were arrested in checkpoints.
Twenty, meanwhile, were arrested in focused-police operations while two wanted men who were accounted by the police were also bringing firearms at the time of their arrests.
The strict enforcement of the firearms ban also led to the seizure of 40 firearms wherein 15 are revolvers, nine are pistols, seven shotguns, four rifles and five improvised guns commonly known as “sumpak”.
Police units across the region also confiscated 38 bladed weapons, one grenade and 228 assorted ammunition.
Soria informed that authorities will continue to implement the gun ban until November 12.
“All permits to carry firearms outside residence issued by the Philippine National Police to civilian gun owners are still suspended,” the police official said.