Police Nets 13 Gunban Violators in Bikol
Saturday, January 30th, 2010
According to the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here, police arrested 11 violators in Masbate and one each in the provinces of Camarines Sur as of January 18, 2010.
All violators are now facing charges on Illegal Possession of Firearms and for violation of COMELEC Resolution No. 8714, imposing the nationwide gun ban covering the entire election period from January 10 until June 9, this year.
The COMELEC directives is a proactive measure by government to strictly implement the total gun ban, as the country braces for the May 2010 elections, to once and for all curb the dirty election-related violence that has festered the country for decades.
Police checkpoints were set-up in all towns and cities in Bikol to impose stricter security measures, though will bring minimum inconvenience upon persons to be searched, but will have a long and lasting effect to curb the proliferation of loose firearms.
Checkpoints are conducted in well-lit and strategic places conforming to the established police operational procedures in the proper conduct of checkpoints and overall supervised by Joint Security Control Centers (JSCC) that oversees the implementation of the nationwide gun ban.
Arrested persons are treated humanely and with utmost respect for their constitutional rights. Police operatives manning checkpoints are strictly mandated to observe the "Plain View" doctrine in searches of vehicles and persons, and should observe the Rules of Evidence and Searches.
With Filipinos pinning so much hope on the outcome of May 2010 elections to make life better in this country, no effort must be spared to make this exercise as peaceful and credible as possible. This includes containing violence with the use of firearms and other deadly weapons. (PRO V/PIA)
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