Two men arrested in Comelec checkpoint for gunban violation

Two persons were arrested by police authorities in a Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint for violating the firearms ban early Wednesday morning, bringing to 24 the number of violators arrested in Eastern Visayas since the police implemented the gun ban last September 28.

Arrested were Danny Jose, 25 and Victor Siasat, 30, both from Brgy. Matlang, Isabel town also in Leyte, in a checkpoint along the national highway in Brgy. Suba in Villaba town in Leyte, some 100 kilometers southwest from Tacloban City, the regional capital.

PCSupt. Elmer R. Soria, director of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) informed that while policemen from Villaba police station led by PSInsp. Clark Chavarria were conducting checkpoint operations at around 2:00 a.m. Wednesday, they flagged down a black single Rusi motorcycle with plate number 2884 HN driven by Siasat with Jose as the backrider. “Our men noticed Jose, who was carrying a backpack placed in front of his body, who appeared to be uneasy and nervous and noticed a firearm handle from the back pack that was unzipped at that time,” Soria said.

He added that verification and inspection was conducted that resulted to the discovery of a homemade gun, locally known as “sumpak”, inside the backpack. The police were also able to confiscate from driver Rosales one bladed weapon locally known as “sundang” tucked in his waist. “They are now detained at Villaba station lock-up cell as charges for violation of the firearms ban are being prepared against them,” the police official added.

As this developed, Soria reiterated his call to his men to strictly implement the gun ban through the intensified checkpoint operations in strategic places, implementation of search warrants, oplan bakal/sita, immediate police response and intelligence-driven operations. So far, police units in the region have arrested 24 civilians who violated the gun ban, Soria added.

“A total of 14 assorted firearms, 65 different ammunitions and 15 bladed weapons were also confiscated and criminal charges were filed against the violators,” the police regional director disclosed. The gun ban, aimed at curbing the possible outbreak of violence for the upcoming October 28 barangay elections, will end on November 12 or 15 days after the polls.