3 guards nabbed for gun ban violation

Three security guards of the Intramuros Admistration were arrested last Friday for violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.

Renato Mendigorio, 40, Jessie Amador, 28, and Titing Lipaopao, 48, were arrested by operatives of the Manila City Hall Special Operations Group under Superintendent Roberto dela Rosa for carrying high-powered firearms without a gun ban exemption from the Comelec.

Seized from the guards were a 12-gauge shotgun, a rifle and two caliber .38 revolvers with ammunition.

In a letter addressed to Dela Rosa dated Jan. 19, Comelec official Nicodemo Ferrer, chairman of the Comelec committee on firearms and security personnel, reported the three guards, saying they had no gun ban exemption.

Dela Rosa immediately sent his operatives to check on the report and the guards were subsequently arrested.

The three will be charged with violation Republic Act 7166 or the Omnibus Election Code, specifically on the carrying of firearms without proper exemption.

The gun ban took effect last Jan. 14 at the start of the election period. The ban ends on June 30.