DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental — Police operatives in Bacong town in Negros Oriental province seized several firearms, ammunition and explosive during a raid Wednesday morning.
The Bacong Police carried out the raid by virtue of a search warrant for violation of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, issued by Negros Oriental Executive Judge Gerardo Paguio Jr. against suspect Arnold Callet Calpis, 42, a resident of Barangay Banilad.
Calpis was arrested and detained as charges are being readied against him.
It was the second time this week that police confiscated illegal firearms and ammunition, after Monday’s raid in Barangay Yupisan in Pamplona town.
Sr. Supt. Portento said police are further investigating the suspects in Pamplona and Bacong from whom the illegal firearms, ammunition and explosive were confiscated.
Provincial police director, Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento, warned that they would be intensifying their operations against illegal firearms, especially with the upcoming gun ban to be implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) starting April 14 in preparation for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
The police would step up its application for search warrants for illegal gun owners while legal gun owners would not be allowed to bring their firearms outside their homes without a permit.
However, since the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be under the operational control of the Comelec during the election period, the commission will have the authority to decide on who can carry firearms during the election period. (Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA)
