The number of gun ban violators arrested has reached the 1,000 mark, with police officials saying they are expecting the figure to further increase in the coming months.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the latest report they received revealed that a total of 1,047 people were collared since the implementation of the gun ban on January 10.

"These gunban violators have been arrested in separate checkpoint and weapons check operations by the Joint Security Control Committees (JSCC) of the PNP and AFP in different regions, provinces, cities and towns," said Verzosa.

Among the arrested violators were 61 PNP members, 35 AFP personnel, 35 government officials, and 916 civilians. Confiscated from the offenders were 908 firearms, 199 explosive devices, 241 bladed weapons, and 786 gun replica.

Verzosa said the more than 900 firearms and almost 200 explosive devices confiscated could cause a lot of trouble and can actually ruin chances of holding clean and credible national elections in May.

"By taking away these instruments of violence and oppression, we are taking a bold step towards ensuring HOPE (Honest Peaceful and Orderly Elections) in 2010," said Verzosa.

A total of 3,500 checkpoints, manned by joint police and military operatives, were set up across the country, aside from the mobile checkpoints recently ordered by Verzosa.

Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, said the PNP leadership has already instructed local police commanders down to the precint level to initiate information-dissemination program on their respective personnel, what with the high number of lawmen arrested.