PNP: 379 election gun ban violators arrested

PNP spokesperson PCol Jean Fajardo — INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested a total of 379 individuals who reportedly violated the nationwide gun ban during the election period.

Citing the National Election Monitoring Action Center’s (NEMAC) latest data, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the figure was monitored as of January 25.

READ: Election gun ban violators reach 250; 255 firearms seized – PNP

“We conducted more or less 98,700 checkpoint operations, and out of those operations, we confiscated 383 guns,” Fajardo said in Filipino in a press briefing on Monday.

“The number of arrested violators climbed to 379; the majority of them are civilians but some were also members of uniformed service, security guards, and appointed government officials,” she added.

She said most of the guns confiscated were from individuals residing in Metro Manila, followed by Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and Western Visayas.

The types of guns seized were revolver, pistol, shotgun, and rifle, among others.

Last January 12, the PNP imposed a nationwide gun ban, as the election period begins for the upcoming May 2025 polls.

The police force said that its imposition of a gun ban aims to ensure peace and order, as the government believes it could lessen gun-related violence during the upcoming midterm polls.