Election gun ban nets 16 guns in Region 12
Local News • 15:25 PM Mon Feb 4, 2019
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
COTABATO CITY – Police authorities in the SOCCSKSARGEN region have seized a total of
16 firearms during the implementation of election gun ban.
Election gun
ban relative to the coming 2019 midterm polls in May started on January 13 and
will end on June 12, this year.
Chief Supt.
Eliseo Tam Rasco, SOCCSKSARGEN police director, said of the 16 guns confiscated
by law enforcers, four guns and a grenade were seized during checkpoint
operations in North Cotabato.
The South
Cotabato police office had accounted for three guns, Cotabato City police
office (2), Gen. Santos City police office (3), Sultan Kudarat police office
(3) and one by Sarangani police office.
Rasco admitted
that there exist a large number of armed groups in Mindanao and that the threat
grows ahead of the the February 6 plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law
(BOL) in North Cotabato and the midterm elections draw nearer.
He said the
region has the existence of strong political rivalries that may resort to
violence in order to reap a surefire win during the elections.
However, Rasco
believed the on-going initiative of temporarily sealing the firearms of most of
the gun bearers and the seizure of those who carry them illegally, may reduce
violence in the elections. (EOF)