Negros Oriental: Two persons were arrested in Negros Oriental for violation of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) gun ban this week, a police official said on Tuesday. Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), stated that the suspects were apprehended on separate occasions on Monday evening.

According to Philippines News Agency, one arrest occurred at a checkpoint while the other took place following a request for police assistance after the suspect allegedly fired a gun. These arrests increase the total number of apprehended gun ban violators in Negros Oriental to five since the start of the election period on January 12.

Lt. Polinar mentioned that three complaints have been filed for violations of the gun ban and illegal possession of firearms under Republic Act 10591, known as The Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Monday, police arrested a 45-year-old man in Barangay Kabukalan, Sta. Catalina town after the barangay captain reported seeing the suspect with a firearm. A caliber .38 revolver, lacking pertinent documents, was recovered from the suspect.

In a separate incident the same night, police and soldiers from the 11th Infantry Battalion, conducting a checkpoint along the highway in Barangay Talungon, Bais City, arrested a 50-year-old male resident of Mabinay City. Confiscated from this suspect was an undocumented caliber .45 handgun with two magazines and eight rounds of live ammunition.

Complaints for violation of the Comelec gun ban and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition are being prepared against both individuals.