In a significant enforcement action marking the start of the election period, a businessman in Iloilo City was apprehended as the first violator of the gun ban in Western Visayas. The incident occurred early Sunday morning when the 41-year-old man, a resident of Barangay Tabuc Suba, crashed his pickup truck into a bibingka stall in Barangay Seminaryo, Jaro District. Police responding to the scene discovered an array of firearms openly displayed inside the vehicle. The confiscated items included two 9mm pistols, two magazines, 16 rounds of ammunition, one Armalite rifle, eight magazines, and 251 rounds of ammunition. The businessman is currently detained at the Jaro Police Station, facing charges under Republic Act Nos. 10591 and 7166 for violating the firearms regulation and election gun ban laws. Dennis Ausan, the Western Visayas Regional Elections Director, stressed the critical role of the Regional Joint Security Control Center, which includes the military, police, and coast guard, in enforcing the gun ban. Additionally, the Commission on Elections has imposed restrictions on the transfer of civil service employees, suspension of local officials, and the use of security details until June 11, unless otherwise cleared. Ausan highlighted that awareness and adherence to these regulations are essential for maintaining a fair and peaceful electoral environment.
