ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) — The Capiz Police Provincial Office has recorded the first poll gun ban violator on Jan. 12, the opening day of the election period for the May 2025 national and local elections.
The 46-year old violator was nabbed with a 5.56 caliber revolver loaded with three ammunition in its cylinder in a buy bust operation against dealing an unlicensed firearm last Jan. 12 by the Pontevedra Municipal Police Station in Pontevedra town.
COMELEC Provincial Election Supervisor lawyer Salud Milagros Villanueva confirmed the report noting that the offender was among the first two cases in the region on the opening day of the five-month gun ban.
Villanueva led a media briefing by the Provincial Joint Security Control Center last Jan. 11 after a PJSCC command conference at the CPPO headquarters in Camp Teodorico C. Apil in Brgy. Lanot, here as part of the preparations to ensure a safe conduct of the midterm polls.
She was joined by Capiz police director Col. Albert Tapulao and 12th Infantry Batallion commander Lt. Col. Vicel Jan Garsuta during the media interaction.
“Buligay lang kita tanan sa aton mga motorista kag mga commuters, indi kita magkahadlok nga gina conduct ang check point kay para man ini nga ma-secure ang aton election,” noted Villanueva, adding that the uniformed personnel must observe basic courtesy in manning the checkpoint.
(Let us all cooperate in the conduct of checkpoint, and the motorists as well as commuters must not be afraid of it as the purpose is only towards a secure and peaceful elections.)
During the media interaction, Col. Tapulao said that the CPPO has identified more than 200 police personnel that will man the various polling precincts in the 468 voting centers provincewide on election day and other pre-election related activities.
The Philippine Army through the 12IB will also augment the police force.
The election period will be until June 11, 2025. (AGP/AAL/PIA Capiz with photo from Roxas City PNP PCADS)