ILOILO CITY – A businessman in this city is the first violator of the gun ban in the 2025 elections in the Western Visayas region.
The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) identified the suspect as Ryan who was arrested past 1 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, after he accidentally crashed his pickup truck into a food kiosk in Jaro District.
POLICE conduct a checkpoint in Leganes town, Iloilo province on Sunday, Jan. 12, the first day of the gun ban for this year’s elections. (Tara Yap)
Investigators of the ICPO-Jaro Police Station found three firearms inside his vehicle – an M15A2 Armalite and two 9mm pistols.
“This arrest served as a strong reminder that the ICPO will not tolerate any violations of election laws. We remain steadfast in our mission to ensure public safety and uphold the rule of law,” said Police Col. Kim Legada, ICPO director.
The inter-agency Regional Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center-6 chaired by the Commission on Elections-6 reminded the public that only law enforcers are allowed to carry firearms outside of their residence in the election period from Jan. 12 to June 11.
The RJPSCC-6 inspected Sunday checkpoints in Iloilo City and the neighboring towns of Leganes and Pavia.
Officials present were Comelec-6 Regional Director Dennis Ausan, Comelec-Iloilo Director Reiner Layson, Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky of the Police Regional Office-6, Major Gen. Marion Sison of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID), Brig. Gen. Michael Samson of the 301st Infantry Brigade, Commander Richard Gura of the Philippine Coast Guard-Iloilo, Police Col. Bayani Razalan of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, and Legada.