The checkpoints implemented to enforce the election gun ban are netting wanted criminals, with the arrest of some fugitives and even communist rebels across the country, a police spokesman said.

In the opening hours of the nationwide gun ban on January 10, police arrested two wanted persons at a Commission on Election checkpoint in Taal,Batangas, identified as Sherwin Sanchez and Edgar Azucena who are both wanted for murder in a court of San Pascual town and Batangas City in the same province, said Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The following day, Reynan Jacobe and Albert Bartolome were intercepted at a Comelec checkpoint moments after staging a robbery where the suspects shot and killed their victim in Plaridel, Bulacan.

Police recovered from the suspects two handguns and the P150,000 loot from the robbery.

In Laguna, three members of the communist New People's Army were arrested in a checkpoint in Lumban town on Wednesday afternoon last week. They were identified as Ruelito Soriano, Mariano Julongbayan and Nolan Ramos.

Found in their possession were powerful improvised explosive device electrical blasting caps, a hand grenade, and P203,000 believed to be part of the group's collection in their extortion activities in Laguna.

“The suspects were on board a private van when intercepted by lawmen in a Comelec-checkpoint in Lumban,” said Espina.

In Masbate, police arrested Provincial Jail Warden Ricardo Bulanon and Jail Guard Nestor LAZARO for violation of the gun ban.

Bulanon is the subject of a PNP investigation for alleged involvement in the activities of a kidnapping suspect detained at the Masbate Provincial Jail who was killed in an encounter with police in Parañaque in 2008.

Espina said a total of 285 people have been arrested since more than 3,500 checkpoints were set up nationwide on January 10 as part of the strict implementation of the gun ban.

Of those arrested, 22 were cops, 17 are military personnel, 11 are government employees while the rest of the 235 are civilians. A total of 238 firearms were also confiscated, 101 of them are high-powered firearms while the rest are handguns.

“But these checkpoint operations are not entirely against gun ban violators alone. These security measures are also in support of ongoing campaigns against loose firearms, wanted persons, and organized crime groups,” said Espina.