Two men were arrested on Monday morning, Jan. 31, for possession of illegal firearms and violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban in Novaliches, Quezon City.
Police Lt. Col. Richard Ian T. Ang, station commander of the Novaliches Police Station (PS 4), identified the suspects as Aldrin Nievez, 21, and Eugene Pilicano, 40.
Nievez and Pilicano were apprehended at 2:30 a.m. by members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) at the Comelec checkpoint on Gen. Luis St. in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon, Novaliches.
The suspects, who were riding a black motorcycle, were initially reprimanded by the authorities for not wearing their helmets.
Upon inspection, however, the police recovered from the suspects two .38-caliber revolvers with three bullets each.
The suspects failed to present a permit to carry firearms outside residence or a certificate of authority for exemption from the Comelec gun ban.
Nievez and Pilicano will be charged with violation of Republic Act 10591(The Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition) in relation to Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 or the Omnibus Election Code.
The Comelec nationwide gun ban was implemented on Jan. 9 and will last up to June 8 in order to ensure public safety during the election period.
Comelec Resolution No. 10728 states that individuals are prohibited from bearing, carrying, and transporting firearms or ammunition outside of their residences and places of employment, unless authorized by the commission.
According to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) report on Jan. 29, a total of 4, 935 Comelec checkpoint operations were conducted from Jan. 9 to Jan. 29.
The operations resulted in the arrest of 188 persons and recovery of 89 firearms and 379 deadly weapons. (Khriscielle Yalao)