CAMP DANGWA, Benguet — The Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) on Monday reported the arrest on Sunday of a violator of the gun ban implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ahead of the synchronized barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth) elections on May 14.
Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, regional director of PROCOR, identified the suspect as Benson Damian Ballia, single, 26 years old, and resident of Barangay Tabiog in Bucay, Abra.
Confiscated from Ballia was a caliber .45 pistol bearing serial number 354625, with magazine loaded with seven live ammunition.
Ballia was arrested by personnel of Peñarubia Municipal Police Station and 1501st Regional Mobile Force in Barangay Lusuac in Abra while conducting a Comelec checkpoint on April 22.
Authorities said Ballia had also violated Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition. The arrest was in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order, through Memorandum Circular No. 21, to all law enforcement agencies of the government, including the military, to help the Comelec ensure honest, orderly, and peaceful local elections this year.
Meanwhile, Barangay Gibraltar Chairman Edward Aclopen of Baguio City voluntarily surrendered one home-made .38-caliber revolver and another revolver with marking Smith and Wesson but no serial number to Baguio City Police Station 3, in support of the Philippine National Police ’s intensified campaign against loose firearms.
The Comelec gun ban has been in effect since April 14, the declaration of the official start of the local election period nationwide.
Comelec checkpoints have been established in different parts of the region beginning 12:01 a.m. on April 14 to conform with the President’s order. (Primo Agatep/PNA)
