In a crackdown on gun ban violations, the Ilocos Police Regional Office (PRO1) reported the arrest of 13 individuals in the Ilocos Region between January 12 and 24. The arrests were part of a broader effort to enforce election-related firearm regulations. The majority of those arrested, 10, were from Pangasinan, with two from La Union and one from Ilocos Sur, as stated by Lt. Col. Benigno Sumawang during a press conference hosted by the Philippine Information Agency Ilocos Region.
Most of these arrests occurred at checkpoints set up across the region. The individuals are now facing legal action for breaching Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, alongside Commission on Elections Resolution No. 10728, which imposes a gun ban during the election period.
The election period, which began on January 12 and will continue until June 11, mandates the suspension of all permits to carry and possess firearms outside of residences, with exceptions only for those granted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) or automatically exempted government officials.
Lt. Col. Sumawang emphasized that during this period, government employees and civilian gun owners must obtain a certificate of authority from the Comelec to carry their firearms outside their homes. Uniformed personnel, however, are covered by operational authorizations.
Additionally, the police have collected 74 surrendered firearms as part of the Oplan Katok initiative, which involves police visits to gun owners with expired permits. Sumawang advised that gun owners unable to renew their permits should surrender their firearms to local police stations to prevent them from being classified as loose firearms.