The Philippine National Police, or PNP, has reported significant progress in enforcing the gun ban in anticipation of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, or BSKE, on 30 October.

As of 28 September, 654 firearms had been confiscated at checkpoints, and 1,063 individuals had been arrested for violating the gun ban, PNP Information chief and spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Sunday.

Fajardo emphasized the ongoing nature of these enforcement efforts, noting system disruptions as a reason for the limited data.

Of the individuals arrested, over 96 percent are civilians, with 1,017 out of 1,063. Notably, among those arrested were 22 security guards, some police officers, military personnel, members of law enforcement agencies, and elected government officials.

Fajardo also highlighted the PNP's vigilance in monitoring potential private armed groups or PAGs ahead of the BSKE.

She said they are actively monitoring 38 PAGs, a decrease from the previous count of over 40. Fajardo explained that some PAGs have gone dormant.

Two out of the three active PAGs in Region 3 have surrendered their firearms, leaving only one PAG under continuous monitoring by the Police Regional Office 3 in Central Luzon. Daily monitoring efforts are in place to ensure no suspicious activities occur.

Fajardo disclosed that the PNP identified 246 "areas of grave concern" for the BSKE, primarily located in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

These areas fall into the red category of the election hotspot list, indicating the highest level of concern.

In response, the PNP  said it maintains a fluid and adaptive security deployment strategy. It said the Comelec en banc could directly order the augmentation of the PNP, AFP, and PCG in areas under the red category, subjecting them to Comelec control.

Apart from red, other categories in the election hotspot list include green, yellow and orange. Green signifies peaceful and orderly areas with no security concerns, while yellow indicates areas of concern with a history of election-related incidents and politically motivated cases. Orange identifies areas of immediate concern with a serious armed threat.

Fajardo reported that 1,248 villages fall under the orange category, while 1,100 are in the yellow category. To reconcile their records, the PNP and the military will convene the National Joint Security Control Center, which will submit its hotspot list recommendations to the Comelec en banc for final approval.