Amid criticism that the election gun ban benefits lawless elements, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 affirmed that it has, in fact, helps curb criminality in this part of the country. 

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., PRO6 director, said that the implementation of the gun ban made has supported the PNP in reducing incidents with the use of firearms and deadly weapons.

“Dito naman sa Western Visayas, tingin ko effective naman,” he said.

Cruz’s pronouncement also came in the heels of a series of attacks by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) in Western Visayas.

Last Friday, Joven Tababa, 45, provincial commander of Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA-ABB), was killed by armed men on his way to Brgy. Bagacay, Tigbauan, Iloilo, after fetching his his 7-year-old daughter from school.

The following day, Gina Gestalao, 35, also an alleged RPA-ABB member and is said to be Tababa’s niece, was also killed in her residence at Brgy. Bulho, San Joaquin, Iloilo. 

Early morning of Sunday, nine persons were killed, including a policeman and three village officials, following an ambuscade in La Castellana town, Negros Occidental.

But Cruz said that the said incidents could not be construed on the weakness of gun ban implementation.

“Ang involved naman kasi dito ay mga miyembro ng New People’s Army. May sarili silang gobyerno na sinusunod but we won’t allow them to sow terror among our populace,” he added.

As of Wednesday, PRO6 recorded 33 persons arrested for violation of the election gun ban in Western Visayas.

The region ranked third in the most highest number of persons arrested in the country next to the National Capital Region and the Southern Tagalog Region.

Iloilo province ranked first with 9 arrests, Negros Occidental with 8, Bacolod City and Iloilo City have 6 each, Aklan has 2, and Antique and Capiz has one each.

Cruz said that 29 firearms while 28 persons were already charged in Court.*