5 slain, 19 suspects nabbed in poll gun ban implementation

Five were killed and 19 others arrested by the different units under the Police Regional Office XI for violation of the Omnibus Election Code or poll gun ban.
Speaking on Wednesday’s AFP-PNP press briefing held at the Royal Mandaya hotel, Chief Insp. Jason Baria, spokesperson of PRO XI, said as of Jan. 29, 2019, they have recorded a total number of 19 operations since the start of the gun ban on Jan. 13.
Police confiscated 26 firearms, two hand grenades, six other explosives, 298 live ammunition, two bladed and pointed weapons, and one modified firearm or sumpak.
Baria said the arrested persons were charged with violation of RA 10591 (illegal possession of firearm) and RA 9156 (Omnibus Election Code).
On Jan. 29, while personnel of the Buhangin Police Precinct were on patrol at Km. 6, particularly in Buhangin gym, they flagged down a motorcycle driver for wearing slippers and without a helmet. However, the passenger, Arnold Diaz, resident of Gumamela Street, Buhangin, had a .45 caliber pistol with serial no. 827172 with him. He also could not present the license to carry the gun around.
Meanwhile, the driver, Edwin Igar, 50, resident of Narra Street, Buhangin, received a ticket.
Also on Monday, two alleged communist rebels were arrested in Purok 6, Sitio Mampising, Barangay Tagnanan, Mabini, Compostela Valley. They were identified as Roaids Reyes and Kenneth Navaro.
Recovered from them were a Springfield .45 caliber pistol with serial no. 196544; homemade .38 caliber pistol without serial number; bullets; grenade; red time fuse; and blasting cap with electrical wire.
Chief Supt. Marcelo C. Morales, regional police director, said the arrest of the two guerrillas is the result of the intensified operations of government forces to eliminate all terror threats in the region.
“We cannot let our guards down. We will look at all the information of these people and validate it to ensure that this group can’t create atrocities in our region, “Morales said.
He also added that PRO XI has escalated the alert level following the twin bombings in Sulu and to suppress and prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the region.
Meanwhile, cases for violation of RA 10591, RA 9516 (possession of explosives) and Omnibus Election Code (gun ban) were filed against the violators.