MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrested 85 individuals as of Wednesday morning for violating the election gun ban.

PNP: 4 arrested so far for violating election gun ban

PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said those apprehended include two Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel, one Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) personnel, three security guards, and one government worker in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The rest are civilians.

The PNP has confiscated 86 firearms, including 31 revolvers, three shotguns and one rifle.

Central Luzon recorded the most number of confiscated firearms with 25, followed by the National Capital Region with 20 and the Ilocos Region with nine.

PNP calls on citizens to cooperate at Comelec checkpoints

“Since nag-start na ang election period, only those individuals na may exemption sa Comelec [can bring firearms]. Ang iba, kahit sila ay may permit to carry firearms outside residence, ay sanctioned sila ng gun ban,” Fajardo told reporters in a virtual press briefing on Wednesday.

The gun ban and checkpoints will be in place during the election period from January 12 to June 11.