By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The first Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban violator in Western Visayas (WV) was arrested at a checkpoint located in Barangay 9, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental late Sunday night, January 9.

Police identified the arrested as 21-year-old Christopher Gaisen, a resident of Sitio Bunga in the city’s Barangay Orong.

Based on information released by the Kabankalan City Police Station, their personnel, led by their deputy chief of police, Lt. Dennis Melgarejo, were conducting a Comelec checkpoint along the highway going to the town of Mabinay in Negros Oriental when they ordered a tricycle to stop for inspection.

As the cops were reviewing the tricycle driver’s documents, they spotted Gaisen at the passenger seat with the handle of his firearm protruding from his unzipped sling bag.

Upon further inspection they were able to determine the firearm as a .38 caliber revolver, and immediately arrested Gaisen on the spot after he failed to show any pertinent documents for the firearm.

Aside from the revolver, police also recovered five live .38 caliber bullets in his possession, as well as two bladed weapons.

Gaisen is facing charges for violating the Comelec gun ban as well as illegal possession of firearms and ammunition./DGB, WDJ