CAMP FLORENDO, La Union — The number of people arrested because of violating the election gun ban in the Ilocos region has reached 101, the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) reported Thursday.

Based on PRO1 records, 101 violators of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 1814 which enforces a nationwide firearms ban have been arrested since its implementation last January 10 until March 15.

Of this total, 97 violators were civilians; two, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); one, a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel; and one from other law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

Significantly, no PRO1 personnel was reported to have violated the gun ban to date, pointed out Chief Superintendend Constante Azares Jr., PRO1 director.

“The police regional office is strictly following the Comelec rules particularly on the gun ban in keeping with the marching orders of Police Director General Jesus Verzosa, the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP),” Azares said.

“Police personnel found violating the ban face termination from the service; their immediate superiors shall also be investigated,” he added.

Azares said 63 firearms have been confiscated in the same period, along with 667 gun replicas and 38 bladed weapons.

Pangasinan, the vote-rich province in the Ilocos Region, topped the list of the number of arrested gun ban violators with 50 followed by La union with 31; Ilocos Norte recorded 10 gun ban violators while Ilocos Sur had only nine.

POLICE-VIOLATORS FACE TERMINATION

During a recent visit in Pangasinan, Azares reminded policemen to continue being responsible in handling their service firearms and warned that they would face termination from the PNP if found violating the gun ban.

He said the directive is intended to minimize violence during the campaign period leading to the May 10 polls.

Meanwhile, Azares disclosed that were 192 local candidates from the region had filed applications for security escorts before the Regional Joint Security Control Center located here.

In addition, he said that his office continues to conduct intensified checkpoint operations in the whole region as part of its preparations to ensure Honest, Orderly, and Peaceful Elections this year (HOPE 2010). (With reports from Dexter A. See and Leizle Basa Iñigo)