2025 midterm poll gun ban: Violators now reaching 1,300
GUN CHECK Police inspect vehicles at a Commission on Elections checkpoint along Tapuac Road in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, on Jan. 12, at the start of the election gun ban. — INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / WILLY LOMIBAO
MANILA, Philippines — The number of gun ban violators reached 1,300 as of Feb. 27, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.
According to PNP data, the number of violators thus far included the following:
- 1,239 civilians
- 26 security guards
- Eight PNP personnel (Six active, one suspended, and one in absence without official leave)
- Seven Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel
- Six personnel of other law enforcement agencies
- Six foreign nationals
- Three children in conflict with the law
- Two elected government officials
- Two appointed government officials
- One Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active Auxiliary personnel
READ: PNP: 1,057 election gun ban violators, so far
The National Capital Region had the most violators at 401, followed by Central Luzon at 200, then by Central Visayas at 180.
The total number of firearms seized stood at 1,298 as of Feb. 27.
Of the firearms confiscated, 578 were seized in police response operations; 188 in anti-illegal drug operations; 119 in checkpoint operations; 70 in gun buy-bust operations; and 343 in other law enforcement operations.
The firearms seized thus far included the following:
- 520 revolvers
- 379 pistols
- 53 replica guns
- 34 explosives
- 31 Class A firearms
- 11 rifles
- 10 shotguns
- Four Class B firearms
- 256 other types of firearms
READ: Male teen in viral ‘wiper’ video nabbed for having improvised firearm
The gun ban began last Jan. 12 for the official election period in a bid by the PNP to reduce violence for the 2025 midterm polls.
READ: Gun ban starts January 12 as election period begins – PNP
Election-related incidents
The PNP also reported that there are five suspected election-related incidents as of Feb. 27: two each in the Zamboanga Peninsula region and the Bangasmoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM); and one in Davao Region.
An incident in Western Visayas remained the sole election-related incident validated by the PNP so far.
READ: PNP: 1 validated poll-related incident, so far
Meanwhile, 15 incidents have been deemed not to be election-related: six in Western Visayas; three in BARMM; two in Cagayan Valley; and one each in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula region, and Soccsksargen.
