CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – The Police Regional Office 4-A on Sunday launched Commission on Elections checkpoints to deter election violence and implement the gun ban in the Calabarzon region.
POLICE conduct a Comelec checkpoint in Laguna.
Lawmen conducted a checkpoint on the national highway in Barangay Halang, Calamba City, Laguna, following the guidelines in Comelec Resolution No. 11067 that aims to reduce election-related violence.
PRO 4-A chief Police Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas said there is enough personnel to man checkpoints in the region.
The PRO-Cordillera and PRO-Central Luzon also launched checkpoints on Sunday.
PRO-Cordillera chief Police Brig. Gen. David Peredo Jr. inspected checkpoints in Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet to ensure operational readiness, proper implementation of security protocols, and vigilance of police officers in maintaining public safety and peace and order.
Peredo personally reminded motorists of the gun ban from Jan. 12 to June 11.
PRO-3 Director Police Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said that 314 checkpoints manned by 2,438 police personnel were deployed in Central Luzon.
Fifteen individuals were apprehended for violating the gun ban -- two in Bataan, one in Bulacan, seven in Nueva Ecija, three in Pampanga, and two in Zambales.
Fajardo urged the people to cooperate with authorities in checkpoints and reassured that police will observe policies and procedures and will uphold their basic rights.
Motorists were advised to slow down, dim their headlights and turn on their cabin lights, and answer promptly if asked by police during checkpoints.
“I have reminded our personnel to be courteous to motorists and to adhere to general guidelines prescribed in our Revised Police Operational Procedures,” Fajardo said. (With a report from Zaldy Comanda)