Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said a total of 86 firearms were confiscated by the Philippine National Police as 6,327 checkpoints were placed in strategic areas nationwide beginning 12 January as part of the election gun ban.
Remulla said the police checkpoints were part of the strategic measures on peace and safety concerns for the 2025 National and Local Elections in May.
According to Remulla, 33 of the 86 confiscated firearms were through various checkpoints, 10 were from buy-bust operations, 39 were via police response, and three were taken through active search warrants.
The DILG Chief earlier mentioned that 34 election hotspots have been identified, 27 of which are from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following the first and highly contested autonomous election in the said region.
“Areas of concern under BARMM, very contested. First time nila magkakaroon ng Autonomous election, so, that’s very contested,” Remulla noted.
Other election hotspots identified include two areas in Eastern Visayas like Leyte and four in parts of Luzon like Abra and Cagayan Valley.
Remulla also vowed the dismantling of private armies in these areas.
Remulla assures the public that he will station additional police units in these hotspot areas to ensure the viability and integrity of the 2025 midterm election.