CEBU CITY – More than 500 loose firearms have been seized since the election gun ban was enforced in Central Visayas last Jan. 12.

The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) reported that 527 loose firearms were confiscated in the intensified campaign to ensure a peaceful election in May. One-hundred seventy individuals were arrested.
Seven of the confiscated firearms were recovered during the heightened conduct of checkpoints. The rest were recovered in other law enforcement operations such as buy-bust operations.
The PRO-7 said that 15,528 checkpoints have been conducted in Central Visayas since Jan. 12.
Police Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, chief of PRO-7, ordered round-the-clock checkpoints to ensure peace in the region until the mid-term elections.
“Our preparations are designed to prevent any disruption and to ensure that the elections are carried out in a peaceful, orderly, and secure manner. The 24-hour checkpoints, along with our other security measures, will help us monitor and prevent any illicit activities that could threaten the safety of our citizens or compromise the elections," said Maranan.
The PRO-7 has yet to record election-related incidents in the region.
Maranan said patrolling, surveillance, and other intelligence-driven operations will continue to thwart possible threats.