PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ecija – A 57-year-old laborer turned to be the first gun ban violator in the province after he allegedly yielded an unlicensed pistol at a checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion East here at about 7:45 p.m., Jan. 13.
Police identified the suspect as Percival Miranda, resident of the said village.
Combined forces from the Nueva Ecija police’s 2nd provincial mobile field company and the municipal police station were conducting a checkpoint in connection with the gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections when the suspect passed by, said investigator SSg. Mark Anthony Bernabe.
When flagged down, authorities found a .45 pistol in Miranda’s possession, Bernabe added.
“Upon verification said person was carrying, bearing and transporting sling bag containing a caliber .45 Armscor with Serial number 1421563, with inserted magazine loaded with 6 live ammunitions of caliber 45 and 13 live ammunitions,” he reported.
The suspect appeared to have no certificate of authority to carry firearms, among other documents.
Criminal complaints for alleged violation of Comelec gun ban and RA 10591 or
“An act providing for a comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition and providing penalties for violations thereof” have been filed against Miranda.
“Let this be a warning to those unscrupulous individuals that we really mean business as we implement the gun ban,” said newly installed acting Nueva Ecija police director Col. Jess Mendez.
