The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has announced the arrest of 42 suspects for alleged violation of the gun ban imposed as part of the security measures implemented during the first State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad also declared last Monday’s SONA as peaceful and orderly without any untoward incident in the areas near Batasan Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.
“Despite the challenging weather starting from severely arid followed by heavy rain in the afternoon, our troops remained in high morale and committed to deliver the high expectations of our people of a safe and secure conduct of the first SONA of President Marcos, Jr.” Natividad said.
The NCRPO reported that 27 firearms were also confiscated during the gun ban period in the capital region.
“During its implementation, gun owners, granted with a privilege to own firearms will have to obey the prohibition of the carrying of firearms outside residence all over the region. With this, men and women of NCRPO were deployed within the streets of the region to hinder possible criminal elements and lawlessness that can be attributed to the use of firearms and other deadly weapons,” said Natividad.
“As a result of thereof, from July 22, 2022 to 11:59 of July 24, 2022, NCRPO recorded the arrest of 42 persons and confiscation of 27 firearms and 204 other deadly weapons during the conduct of 35 checkpoints, buy-bust operations, service of warrant, police patrol and police response and other operations in Metro Manila,” he added.
Among the confiscated materials were handguns, paltik, sumpak and gun replicas.
Natividad reminded the public that the ban will continue for another two days after the SONA.
“Violators will be punished in accordance with existing laws ascribed to air-tight complaints lodged by NCRPO to proper authorities,” he said.
The NCRPO chief commended the 22,000 policemen for their accomplishment and for the peaceful conduct of SONA.
He also praised personnel from the Police Regional Office 4-A, Police Regional Office 3, Special Action Force, the Armed Forces, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Metro Manila Development Authority, the Office of Civil Defense, and the Department of Health.
“We owe the success of our peace and order operation in this event from the collaboration and unity of various offices and units concerned. This outcome is mutually beneficial to all participants who were able to attain the supposed to be common goal of the day-to understand the plans and courses of action which our President ought to take as we all move forward towards recovery and progress,” Natividad said.