Over 3K gun ban violators nabbed so far

Banac added that the PNP has so far confiscated a total of 2,603 firearms (includes small, light, and others — sumpak, improvised or homemade guns) and 22,930 deadly weapons which include grenades and other explosives, bladed/pointed weapons, ammunition and gun replicas. (Pixabay file photo)

MANILA — More than 3,000 persons have been arrested for violating the election gun ban.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, Col. Bernard Banac said as of 6 a.m. Thursday a total of 3,105 persons have been apprehended in 350,663 police operations since the implementation of the gun ban by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last January 13.

Of this number, 1,690 suspects were intercepted during police patrol operations, 637 through search warrants, and 504 during “Oplan Bakal, Sita, Galugad” operations.

Banac said the figures include 234 persons apprehended in checkpoints and 40 others during the serving of warrants of arrest.

He said 2,924 of those arrested are civilians while the other 57 were security guards; 44 were government and elected officials; 32 were police officers; five were military personnel; seven were law enforcers; two members of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; and three foreign nationals.

Authorities have also arrested 23 persons from “threat groups” and six from private armed groups.

Banac added that the PNP has so far confiscated a total of 2,603 firearms (includes small, light, and others — sumpak, improvised or homemade guns) and 22,930 deadly weapons which include grenades and other explosives, bladed/pointed weapons, ammunition and gun replicas.

The mid-term elections will be held on May 13 but the gun ban will last until June 12, according to the Comelec.