Two men arrested in
Comelec checkpoint for gunban violation
By RPCRD, Police Regional
Office 8
October 10, 2013
CAMP SEC. KANGLEON, Palo,
Leyte – 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.