BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office topped the campaign against gun ban violators among provincial and city police offices in Western Visayas two months into its implementation.
Of the 99 gun ban violators accounted for, the arrest of 42 was credited to NOCPPO, followed by Iloilo Police Provincial Office – 17, Aklan Police Provincial Office -11, Iloilo City Police Office -10, Bacolod City Police Office -9, Capiz PPO -5, Antique PPO -3 and Guimaras PPO -2.
In the same period, 58 assorted firearms and 47 bladed weapons were also recovered from the arrested violators, according to PBrig. Gen. Flynn Dongbo, regional police director of Western Visayas.
NOCPPO seized 23 firearms and 21 bladed weapons, police records show.
Dongbo said that they will further intensify their efforts through the conduct of checkpoints across the region, in coordination with the COMELEC, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Coast Guard.
It is our objective that the upcoming May 9 elections is secure, fair, peaceful and orderly, he added.
We cannot do it alone, we also need the cooperation, support and commitment of everyone to achieve this, Dongbo further said.
On the other hand, four drug suspects were arrested by the police in series of buy-bust operations on March 8 in Silay City, Negros Occidental, that also yielded P170,000 worth of suspected shabu.
Nabbed at Matagoy Interior in Brgy. Rizal, Silay City were Genesis Palma, Ronillo Peregil and Alfe Macabales.
Another buy-bust operation at Buenavista Subdivision Phase 2 in Brgy. Guinhalaran, Silay City, also resulted to the arrest of Jojemar Lopez.
The four arrested suspects are now facing charges for violation of RA 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.*
