LUCENA CITY—The Philippine National Police in the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon) regions on Sunday said at least 230 persons had been arrested for gun ban and carrying of deadly weapons offenses during the election period for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set on Oct. 30. These arrested, which covered the period from Aug. 28 until Oct. 15, had all been charged with violating the provision in the Omnibus Election Code that prohibits the unauthorized carrying or transporting of firearms and deadly weapons outside residences, businesses and public places, the Calabarzon PNP said in an accomplishment report. The gun ban, which started in Aug. 28, will remain in effect until Nov. 29, while the campaign period has been set from Oct. 19 to Oct. 28. The police said five illegal firearms were also surrendered since Aug. 28 while 254 licensed guns had been deposited by their owners for safekeeping by local police stations. —DELFIN T. MALLARI JR. INQ
