Two Arrested for Violating Election Gun Ban in Maguindanao del Sur

Law enforcement officers detained two persons for violating the election gun ban in Maguindanao del Sur, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

Police Brigadier General Jaysen De Guzman, head of the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (Pro-Bar), identified the suspects only by their aliases, Musa and Norodin.

The arrests were made during a checkpoint operation on Monday, September 15, in Sambulawan village, Datu Salibo. According to De Guzman, police found two high-powered firearms and two short firearms clearly visible inside the vehicle occupied by the suspects.

"Upon inquiry and inspection, the suspects were unable to provide valid documents to legally possess firearms," De Guzman stated, noting that the arrest violated Republic Act 10591, known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, as well as the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) gun ban.

This election-related firearm prohibition coincides with the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections scheduled for October 13, 2025. The gun ban was implemented starting August 14 and will remain effective until October 28.

The detainees and the confiscated firearms are currently held by the Datu Salibo Municipal Police Station pending proper documentation and subsequent legal proceedings, De Guzman added.