MANILA, Philippines - Two days after the barangay polls, the number of persons arrested for the Commission on Elections gun ban continues to rise, the Philippine National Police said.
The PNP reported that a total of 668 persons have been apprehended for the violation of the Comelec-imposed gun ban as of 6:55 a.m. Wednesday.
Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor, spokesman of the PNP chief, said that of the total gun ban violators, 618 were civilians, eight policemen, six soldiers, seven government officials, 25 security guards, a member of a law enforcement agency, and three members of a government paramilitary group.
Mayor said that the number of confiscated firearms is now at 555 since the gun ban has been implemented last Sept. 28, the start of the election period for the village polls.
Law enforcers also seized 20 gun replicas, 217 bladed weapons, 68 grenades, 290 other explosive devices and 4,575 ammunition, the PNP official said.
The gun ban will be in effect until Nov. 12, or 15 days after the barangay elections.
Meanwhile, Mayor said the PNP is still in full alert status until the All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day celebration.
He added that deployment for the annual celebrations will depend on the ground commanders.
"Depende kasi sa need yan. Ang All Saint's Day naman ay solemn na araw yan kaya di masyadong delicate matter," Mayor said, noting that the deployment of police units is usually locallized or by regions.
In his experience as a former police chief of Valenzuela City, Mayor said the deployment follows a 15-85 rule, 15 percent doing desk jobs while the rest doing field work.