PNP logs over 3,600 violators of 2025 election gun ban

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. The ban has ended June 11, but the Philippine National Police says it has arrested more than 3,600 individuals for violations of this Omnibus Election Code. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / WILLY LOMIBAO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded a total of 3,616 people arrested for violating the gun ban for the 2025 national and local elections.

The gun ban was imposed for the election period of January 12 to June 11 in a bid to reduce election-related violence during the midterm polls.

In a statement Wednesday, the PNP said it arrested the following individuals for defying the ban on firearms:

• 3,462 civilians
• 61 security guards
• 21 PNP personnel
• 19 Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel
• 16 foreigners
• 14 elected government officials
• Eight Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary members
• Seven personnel of other law enforcement agencies
• Three children in conflict with the law
• Three alleged communist terrorist group members
• Two appointed government officials

According to the agency, 1,879 of the arrests were made in police response operations; 556 in anti-drug operations; 265 in checkpoint operations; 229 in gun buy-bust operations; one in an internal security operation; and 686 in other law enforcement operations.

The PNP further reported conducting 998,679 Commission on Elections checkpoints throughout the election period.

Further, the National Capital Region had the highest number of violators at 1,271; followed by Central Luzon with 435; and Central Visayas with 429.

READ: Gun ban starts January 12 as election period begins – PNP

The law enforcement agency further detailed that the arrests yielded a total of 3,702 firearms, which included the following:

• 1,317 revolvers
• 1,057 pistols
• 136 replica firearms
• 89 explosive devices
• 79 Class A firearms
• 38 airguns or airsoft guns
• 28 rifles
• 28 shotguns
• 15 uncategorized firearms
• Seven Class B firearms
• 908 other firearms

“The PNP extends its gratitude to the public for their cooperation and vigilance, and assures continued law enforcement operations post-election to uphold safety and security across the nation,” the agency said. /jpv