DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 20 January) – Police arrested five persons in Davao Region for violation of the five-month election gun ban that started last January 12 until June 11, 2025, an official of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao said on Monday.
Major Catherine Dela Rey, spokesperson of the PRO-Davao, said during Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday that the suspects were found carrying firearms when they were searched during police or buy-bust operations.
“Most of the incidents were due to police responses, with one case resulting from a buy-bust operation,” she said.
According to the police record, one violator was arrested in Malalag town in Davao del Sur, two in Davao City, one in Tagum City, and another one in San Isidro town, Davao del Norte.
The police suspended the permit to carry firearms outside residence (PTFOR) in pursuance of the nationwide gun ban that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has implemented for the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.
Dela Rey added the suspects could also face criminal liability for illegal possession of firearms in addition to the penalty for violating the election gun ban.
Section 261 (q) of the Omnibus Election Code prohibits anyone “from carrying firearms outside of their residence or place of business during the election period unless authorized by the COMELEC.”
The police official said the entire region has been placed under the “green” category, indicating that it has no areas of concern or any election-related incidents.
“We will continue to monitor our candidates and coordinate with them if they have received any threats. Being categorized under the ‘green’ category does not mean that we will also ease up on our monitoring,” she said.
She added the PRO-Davao vows to “ensure a free, honest, and successful” conduct of elections this year.
Lawyer Gay Enumerables, COMELEC-Davao assistant regional director, said the poll body has noted that the region remains “peaceful” despite the intense political rivalries in some areas.
According to COMELEC-Davao, there are 3,388,943 registered voters in the region.
Enumerables said the region would receive 4,189 automated counting machines from the national office of COMELEC for the May elections. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
