A town mayor of Albay province in Bicol was arrested after yielding a pistol with alleged spurious exemption papers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City early Monday, a radio report said.
Radio dzXL identified the suspect as Malinao Mayor Avelino Ceriola who was arrested for yielding a .45-caliber pistol at the NAIA Terminal 2 about 5 a.m. Ceriola was to board a Philippine Airlines Flight PR-277 to Legazpi City.
A separate report on dzBB radio said he presented gun ban exemption documents purportedly signed by Elections Commissioner Lucenito Tagle. Police are still examining the documents.
Sr. Supt. Napoleon Cuaton, commander of the NCR police aviation security group, holds up the .45-caliber pistol seized from Ceriola. GMANews.TVPromptly, the National Police said it will ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify Ceriola for allegedly violating the gun ban.
PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said they are awaiting the filing of formal charges against Ceriola before filing the petition with the Comelec.
Violators
Meanwhile, the PNP said the number of violators of the nationwide election gun ban continued to soar, reaching 1,390 as of Monday.
Data reaching the PNP showed the violators included 1,222 civilians and 168 government employees, including policemen and soldiers.
The PNP also said that as of Monday, at least 1,202 firearms had been seized, along with 800 gun replicas and air guns. Also seized were 335 bladed weapons, 225 grenades, and explosives.
The PNP started implementing the nationwide gun ban last January 10 and will continue implementing it until June 9. — RSJ, GMANews.TV
