79 arrested, 79 firearms seized in Western Visayas

A TOTAL of 79 individuals were arrested and 79 assorted firearms, along with four gun replicas, were confiscated in Western Visayas from January 12 to May 31, 2025, as part of the enforcement of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban, the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6) said.

Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky, regional director of the PRO 6, said the success of the campaign was due to the commitment of police personnel and inter-agency coordination under the Joint Security Control Center.

“We want to inform the public that the gun ban remains effective until midnight of June 11, 2025, thus, carrying of firearms without proper authorization is a violation,” said Wanky.

He added that PRO 6 commends the efforts of all unit commanders and their personnel for strict enforcement of the Comelec gun ban through checkpoints and law enforcement operations.

The breakdown of arrests by unit is as follows:

– Iloilo Police Provincial Office (Ippo) – 33 arrests

– Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO) – 18 arrests

– Antique Police Provincial Office (Antppo) – eight arrests

– Iloilo City Police Office (Icpo) – seven arrests

– Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Western Visayas (RMFB 6) – five arrests

– Aklan Police Provincial Office (Akppo) – four arrests

– Guimaras Police Provincial Office (GPPO) – four arrests

The most recent arrest was made by personnel of the RMFB 6 during a checkpoint operation in Barangay Tambal, Janiuay, Iloilo around 3:30 p.m. on May 31, 2025.

The suspect, identified as alias Ranny, of legal age and a resident of the area, was found in possession of one homemade 12-gauge shotgun with two live cartridges.

The ongoing enforcement is anchored on Republic Act (RA) 7166, which provides for synchronized national and local elections and electoral reforms, and Comelec Resolution 11067 promulgated on September 25, 2024. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)