THE Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday said 3,616 individuals were arrested for violating the gun ban that was implemented during the election period that ran from January 12 to June 11, 2025.
Police operatives likewise seized 3,702 firearms during the period.
“This strong enforcement helped ensure a generally peaceful and credible 2025 midterm National and Local Elections,” the PNP said in a statement.
It added: “President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., under whose leadership the government adopted a whole-of-nation approach to secure the polls, was instrumental in fostering this climate of peace and public order.”
Latest reports from the National Election Monitoring Action Center (NEMAC) showed that the PNP conducted a 998,679 election checkpoints nationwide, which resulted in 265 arrests.
Additional police response operations led to the apprehension of 1,879 individuals, 556 during anti-illegal drugs operations, 229 from gun buy-busts, 686 during other law enforcement operations (OLEO), and 1 during an internal security operation in the Bicol region.
NEMAC is a collaboration among the PNP, the AFP and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to provide real-time monitoring of election-related incidents in polling centers nationwide. It was launched on January this year.
The PNP said that among the 3,616 arrested individuals, 3,462 were civilians, 61 were security guards, 16 were foreign nationals, 21 were PNP personnel (19 active, 1 AWOL, 1 suspended), 19 from the AFP, 14 elected government officials, eight (8) members of the CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA), seven (7) other law enforcement agency (OLEA), three (3) children in conflict with the law (CICL), three (3) from communist terrorist groups (CTGs), and two (2) appointed government officials (AGOs).
The NCRPO logged the highest number of arrested individuals at 1,271; followed by Region 3 with 435; Region 7 with 429; and Region 4A with 336. Other regions also reported significant enforcement results, including Region 6 (113), Region 10 (112), and Region 1 (103).
The PNP statement also said that 3,702 firearms were recovered, which include 1,317 revolvers; 1,057 pistols; 28 rifles; 28 shotguns; and 908 classified as other firearms.
Operatives also seized 124 airsoft guns, 136 replica firearms, 15 unclassified, and 89 explosive devices.
The firearms were seized from various police response operations, anti-illegal drugs operations, gun buy-busts, checkpoints, and other law enforcement efforts.
PNP chief Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III lauded the entire police force and partner agencies for their unwavering dedication to maintaining peace and enforcing the law throughout the election season.
“This success is the result of unified efforts —from the ground personnel manning checkpoints day and night to the support of our communities, and the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who emphasized secure and credible elections as a national priority,” Torre said.
He vowed to continue the momentum, saying that “we will not let up. The conclusion of the gun ban marks a transition, not an end. The PNP remains committed to sustaining peace, preventing gun-related violence, and protecting every Filipino from crime and lawlessness.”
