Cotabato City (CNN Philippines) — Law enforcers in Maguindanao successfully apprehended six persons for violating the total gun ban in the province which was implemented starting last Sunday (January 10).
According to the data released by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maguindanao, joint elements of the Parang Municipal Police Office, Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) ARMM and 37th Infantry Battalion (IB) apprehended a security guard in Brgy. Nituan of the said town.
Related: 14 people arrested for violating election gun ban, says PNP
Police identified the suspect as Jonathan Jovellano, 25, a resident of the same place. Recovered from Jovellano was a M16 baby armalite rifle with three long magazines.
Another person, which police identified as Mike Upan Datukaka, a 37-year-old resident of Mother Kabuntalan in Maguindanao, was also arrested last Monday in Datu Odin Sinsuat. A caliber .45 pistol, a magazine loaded with ammunition and a single motorcycle were recovered from Datukaka.
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Personnel of 57th IB based in Brgy. Kauran and Ampatuan PNP apprehended four persons about 9:30 p.m. on Monday. They were identified as Loy Daulog Baliwan, 27; Tik Galmak Guiandal, 26; Basir Felim Sambolawan; and Nasrolla Balad Laguiab, 28 — all residents of Brgy. Salman of the said municipality.
Recovered from them were two caliber .45 pistols, one 9mm pistol and one Uzi Ingram 9mm pistol.
Arrested suspects are in custody of the apprehending unit.
According to PNP ARMM spokesman Police Sr. Insp. Ronald de Leon, all police unit in the region were directed by the regional police office to intensify their campaign against illegal fire arms to assure the conduct of the elections.
Related: Comelec checkpoints set up nationwide
