In Pangasinan, the local police have detained 20 people for disregarding the election gun ban that has been in place since January 12. The arrests were announced by the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) on Friday. According to PPO director Col. Rollyfer Capoquian, the majority of these arrests occurred during police operations responding to disturbances that necessitated immediate action. The individuals arrested are now facing legal action under Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, linked to the gun ban enforced by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). No high-profile figures or election candidates have been implicated in these violations to date. Additionally, the police are keeping a close watch on eight areas identified as high-risk due to historical political tensions and previous election-related conflicts. These areas include Aguilar, Binmaley, Malasiqui, Mangaldan, San Quintin, Sual, Urdaneta, and Dagupan. Col. Capoquian emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring to prevent any repeat or escalation of past election incidents. With the upcoming elections on May 12, Pangasinan is preparing to accommodate over 2.1 million registered voters at 2,869 clustered precincts.
