PNP: Almost 12,000 deadly weapons seized amid gun ban

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has seized at least 11,920 deadly weapons since the January 13 imposition of the gun ban for the May 2019 midterm elections.

Data released by the PNP Public Information Office on Thursday also showed that 1,731 persons have been arrested during the "focused police operations" from January 13, 2019 to February 20, 2019.

The arrested persons were classified as follows:

• 1,635 civilians
• 35 security guards
• 22 government /elected officials
• 20 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel
• 9 members of "threat groups"
• 3 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel
• 4 other law enforcement agency personnel
• 2 members of "private armed groups"
• 1 Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel

The PNP specified that 948 of the total 1,731 were arrested through "police patrol response;" 293 through search warrants; 181 through checkpoint operations; and 17 through warrants of arrest.

Another 292 were arrested through other police operation plans (Oplan) such as Bakal, Sita, and Galugad, among others.

The deadly weapons seized since January 13 include 364 explosive devices (IEDs)/other explosives; 569 bladed/pointed weapons and 86 grenades.

The PNP also said at least 1,380 firearms have either been confiscated, recovered or surrendered.

The total number arrested persons grew by at least 578 since the data released on February 7, 2019. —Margaret Claire Layug/ LDF, GMA News