Philippine Army’s 43rd Infantry Battalion under the 8th Infantry Division apprehended two election gun ban violators for illegally possessing firearms and threatening residents in Barangay Lungib, Victoria, Northern Samar, 2-days ahead of election day.
While conducting clearing operations in line with the incoming election, the operating troops, through the report of concerned citizens, apprehended Romel C. Guinanao and Jeffrey P. Delfin, who were carrying out threats and intimidation to coerce some residents of Barangay Lungib to vote for a particular candidate.
Soldiers seized a submachine gun (KG9) with two magazines and ten rounds of 9mm ammunition from the violators.
According to Maj. Gen. Edgardo Y De Leon, Commander of 8th Infantry Division, upon further background check of the suspects, they found out that Delfin was a former member of communist terrorist’s group’s Front Committee-2, Sub Regional Committee (SRC) Emporium who went on lie-low last 2012.
The soldiers turned over the violators to Victoria Municipal police station for processing and filing of appropriate cases.
In a statement, AFP Chief of Staff General Andres Centino said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in partnership with the PNP and Philippine Coast Guard as deputized by the COMELEC, intensifed its implementation of the election gun ban nationwide to ensure that voters can select their chosen candidates on election day without threat or intimidation. — AFP
