PNP: 4 arrested in early hours of election gun ban

Four persons were apprehended early Sunday after the nationwide gun ban took effect amid the election period for the May 2025 polls, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil said some of the firearms that were confiscated from those arrested were pistols and long guns.

“Actually doon sa report namin, dalawa, pero ‘yung tinext sa akin, apat na ang nahuli natin from BARMM, [Regions] 12, 6 and 3 ang nahuli natin na lumalabag ng Comelec gun ban,” Marbil said in an ambush interview.

(In our report, only two were arrested but based on the information texted to me, there were already four arrested in BARMM, Regions 12, 6, and 3 for violating the Comelec gun ban.)

The PNP chief emphasized that the licenses to own and possess firearms of gun ban violators will be revoked or suspended.

LIST: Details of gun ban during election period

“Suspended ‘yan. We'll just come up with a policy kung ilang years ka namin na hindi bibigyan ng baril. Just try us. Subukan niyo, mag-violate po kayo. Tatanggalin po namin kayo, habang buhay na hindi na kayo magdadala ng baril,” he added.

(The licenses will be suspended. We'll just come up with a policy on how many years you will not be allowed to carry a firearm. Just try to violate the gun ban and you will no longer be allowed to carry a gun for the rest of your life.)

Marbil said that the PNP put up 1,472 checkpoints all over the country amid the election gun ban.

At checkpoints, only visual inspections are allowed. Police are prohibited from opening a vehicle’s trunk or glove compartment, as well as requiring drivers and passengers to disembark and be frisked.

The gun ban will be implemented until June 11, 2025, under Commission on Election (Comelec) Resolution No. 11067, in a bid to lessen election-related violence.

Marbil also reminded PNP personnel stationed at checkpoints to always wear body-worn cameras or any alternative recording device.

“‘Yan ang warning ko. Dadalhin natin, Ipakita po kasi natin na dito, maayos ang ating bansa, maayos ang mga pulis when we conduct checkpoints,” he said.

(This is my warning. Let us bring these devices and show that our country is orderly and the police are also in order when we conduct checkpoints.)

The campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups is set from February 11 to March 10, 2025. Meanwhile, the campaign period for candidates for House of Representatives and parliamentary, provincial, city and municipal elections will be from March 28 to May 10.

The days set for campaigning exclude April 17 and 18, as the country observes Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

The campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups is set from February 11 to March 10, 2025. Meanwhile, the campaign period for candidates for House of Representatives and parliamentary, provincial, city and municipal elections will be from March 28 to May 10.

The Comelec checkpoints have been put up for the 2025 national and local elections.

According to the Commission on Elections, the campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups will be from February 11 to May 10. The days set for campaigning exclude April 17 and 18, as the country observes Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. —RF, GMA Integrated News