Cops step up gun ban

By Lito Rulona and Ben Serrano

POLICE have gone strict on the implementation of the election gun ban which started last Sunday.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials in Misamis Oriental asked the police to also go after loose firearms.

In Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental, some five thousand firearms are unaccounted for.

“Wala pay politiko nga nag-file og exemptions sa ilang mga armas nga gihuptan pero naa nay nangayo og mga application form,” said Comelec provincial director Carlito Ravelo.

Misamis Oriental police director Senior Supt. Rolando Hinanay said he has ordered to all municipal police stations to start accounting registered firearms.

Hinanay also said police are now looking into a report that the New People’s Army (NPA) would harass candidates for protection money.

On this matter, Hinanay said he was coordinating with the Army’s 4th Infantry Division.

“We are installing more mobile checkpoints in every municipality,” he said.

Hinanay said gun owners may coordinate with barangay officials who can help in ensuring that the guns are placed under safekeeping.

A different story occurred in Caraga, particularly in Surigao City.

As early as Saturday, four persons were arrested for loose firearms by the Regional Intelligence Division and the Surigao del Norte Provincial Police Office.

Police cornered the suspects in Barangay Taft, Surigao City.

They were identified as 45-year-old Allan Avelino of Danao City, 45-year-old Archie Avelino of Barangay Capalayan, Surigao City; 21-year-old Ariel Avelino of Placer, Surigao del Norte and 21-year-old Richard Zambrano of Claver, Surigao del Norte.

Seized from the four were a 9 mm automatic pistol with three magazines, a 9 mm pistol with one magazine, two caliber .45 pistols with two magazines, two caliber .38 revolvers, a caliber .22 revolver and ammunition.

The suspects are now facing charges before the City Prosecutor’s Office in Surigao City.