3,704 nabbed as poll gun ban ends

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police arrested a total of 3,704 violators of the Commission on Elections gun ban, which ended at Wednesday midnight.

The PNP also reported that during the 150-day campaign, authorities seized 3,596 assorted firearms, 1,082 bladed weapons, 758 explosive devices, and over 30,000 rounds of assorted ammunition.

The PNP has filed a total of 2,441 criminal cases against the arrested violators.

PNP Chief Director General Alan Purisima attributed the successful gun ban implementation on the PNP's various police operations and anti-criminality campaign.

"It is a strong conviction of the PNP that the best deterrence to the commission of crime is the certainty of prosecution of these arrested gun ban offender," he added.

He said that similar police campaigns such as Oplan Bakal, Oplan Katok, checkpoint and on-the-spot gun check operations during the election period will continue even after the Comelec gun ban ends because of its proven effectiveness in preventing crimes.