Six gun ban violators arrested

Authorities noticed that one of the passengers had a gun, so they asked them to step down the car and frisked one by one

Police in Manila and Quezon City reported the arrest of six individuals who violated the gun ban implementation ahead of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Monday.

In Manila, three men were nabbed by authorities violating RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. However, the identities of the violators were not disclosed.

Operatives from the Traffic Enforcement Branch of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-National Capital Region (RHPU-NCR) group — under the direct supervision of deputy chief P/Maj. Joselito Quila — were conducting an Anti-Carnapping Operation when the violators were apprehended.

Over at Quezon City, the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) were conducting an anti-carnapping operation at corner EDSA-Quezon Avenue when police spotted a Suzuki Ziat car with suspicious or improvised plate number.

Cops ordered the car with three men on board to pull over, and upon inspection they found out that the car’s document presented by the driver was registered to a Toyota Corolla.

Further search inside the vehicle yielded three hand guns — cal. 38, cal. 45, and 9mm pistol. According to the report, the three men are now in police custody for further investigation.

To recall, the PNP has imposed the gun ban in Metro Manila from 22 to 27 July to secure the first SoNA of the President.

PNP director for operations chief P/Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon said that PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Vicente Danao Jr. has approved the gun ban.

The PNP earlier said 15,000 security personnel including police personnel, soldiers, and force multipliers from other government agencies will be deployed for the SoNA on 25 July and a task force will be created for the security of the SoNA. It will coordinate with other government agencies for traffic rerouting, handling of protesters, and other security issues.

The PNP designated freedom parks where protesters will be allowed to conduct their programs.