Police seize 315 loose firearms one month after Comelec imposed gun ban

Police have seized a total of 315 loose firearms almost a month after the Commission on Elections had imposed as gun ban.

Philippine National police chief Director General Oscar Calderon said Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections) has set up checkpoints and chokepoints nationwide to intercept illegal firearms.

Of the 315 loose guns seized nationwide, 221 were short firearms and 94 were high-powered guns.

Records show 77 firearms were seized and 82 persons were charged with illegal possession of firearms in the Calabarzon Region, and 47 persons were arrested and 29 guns seized in Metro Manila.

Police in Eastern Visayas have seized some 29 guns and arrested 29 persons, while in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 24 loose firearms were seized and 24 persons arrested.

In Northern Mindanao, police seized some 23 firearms, while in the Davao and SOCCSARGEN Regions 13 firearms each were seized.

In the Bicol Region, police seized 14 guns, 12 each in Eastern Visayas and the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

In Central Luzon, 10 firearms were seized, nine in the Caraga Region, and eight firearms in Cagayan Valley. –Cecille Suerte Felipe