Ilocos PNP arrests 329 persons; nets 244 guns

By Myds  Supnad

CAMP FLORENDO, San Fernando City La Union --  Region 1 police headed by Ilocos police director Chief Supt. Ericson T. Velasquez have arrested 329 violators and confiscated 244 firearms during duration of Commission on Elections’  gun ban January to June. 

        Velasquez said out of the 329 were 310 civilians, 12 government officials and employees, five security guards and two PNP members arrested for carrying guns or replicas and bladed weapons.

Based on data from PRO1’s Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, 145 were arrested in Pangasinan, 62 in La Union, 54 in Ilocos Sur and 68 in Ilocos Norte. 

Region 1 police also seized 244 assorted firearms composed of 82 high powered and 162 low powered firearms; 30 firearm replicas, air guns and airsoft gun, 32 bladed weapons and 36 grenade and explosives.

Velasquez said violators were arrested in checkpoint, buy-bust and police response. 

A total of 316 incidents were recorded wherein 172 were referred to Prosecutor’s Office, 128 were filed in court, two  under investigation, two referred to DSWD, 10 dismissed by Prosecutor’s Office and two with no case filed. 

Velasquez on Monday conferred Medalya ng Kasanayan and Medalya ng Papuri to personnel assigned at the PRO1 headquarters who rendered election duties during the 2016 national and local elections. 

                The director also conferred awards to his police personnel on the ground during the awarding at police provincial offices of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.