Bicol mayor arrested for violating gun ban

An Albay municipal mayor running for reelection in the May polls is being detained on suspicion of violating the anti-gun ban and is now facing criminal charges and possible disqualification after authorities confiscated from him an unlicensed gun at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport early this morning, media reports said.

Mayor Avelino Ceriola of Malianao, Albay presented his .45 caliber gun and a suspected fake Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence supposedly issued by Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Lucenito Tagle, the Chairman of the Comelec Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security, the Philippine Star reported. Ceriola will be charged with violating the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines.

Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that members of the Aviation Security Group arrested Ceriola as he was about to board Philippine Airlines flight PR 277 en route to Legaspi City at 6:30 a.m.

Comissioner Tagle said only law enforcement agencies and other groups specified in Comelec Resolution 8714 are exempted from the ban and they do not allow exemptions to individuals, said abs-cbnnews.com.

Ceriola’s case is one of 1,630 gun ban violations recorded since the nationwide gun ban was implemented January 10. He is the third mayoral candidate who faces disqualification charges.

Data from the Philippine National Police shows that 1,222 civilians and 168 government employees, policemen, and soldiers violated the gun ban, gmanews.tv reported.

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