Thirty-one individuals, inclusive of a government employee from Mindanao and a soldier, were arrested at Philippine National Police (PNP) checkpoints in relation to the gun ban during the election period.

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(Photo by Jayson Pulga)

The 31 people, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), were caught on the first day of the implementation of the prohibition on carrying weapons outside the home by those who are not authorized to do so, whether the firearm is licensed or not.

PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said those arrested include an employee of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ministry and a soldier from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Authorities also confiscated 80 guns including 60 small firearms, two Class A light weapons, one Class B light weapon, 17 replicas and explosives, in addition to 539 rounds of ammunition.

The most confiscations on the first day of the gun ban were in Central Luzon, followed by the Ilocos Region, with Western Visayas in third place.