CEBU CITY – As Central Visayas authorities prepare for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections slated for Oct. 30, a total of 162 loose firearms and three explosives have been confiscated.
According to a new release by the Philippines News Agency, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7. Aberin stated that the seizures took place during a four-day regionwide simultaneous anti-criminality law enforcement operation from Oct. 21 to 24. The 162 firearms were confiscated from 27 arrested individuals, underscoring the police's active enforcement of the election gun ban.
"The election gun ban campaign has been in full swing since Aug. 28. I have issued a stern warning to those who are planning to disrupt the upcoming elections," Aberin informed the media. He noted that the majority of the firearms were captured during Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoints, the execution of search warrants, buy-bust operations, Oplan Katok, and routine police patrols.
Since the initiation of the campaign on Aug. 28, different police units and stations in the region have conducted 14,919 Comelec checkpoints. These operations resulted in the deposit and surrender of an additional 683 firearms.
In conjunction with the election security measures, police have also been actively involved in anti-drug operations. These efforts have led to the seizure of illegal drugs valued at PHP2.7 million and the arrest of 28 individuals linked to drug-related activities.
Aberin concluded by stating, "There will be no letup in our operations against all forms of criminality in order to ensure a safe and secured electoral exercise come Oct. 30 BSKE."