PNP, AFP personnel who violated gun ban to be sent to Maguindanao

A total of 108 police and military personnel who violated the election gun ban will soon be deployed to Maguindanao province, where 57 people — including 32 journalists — were killed in the November 23, 2009 massacre. Of this figure, 70 will come from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina told reporters on Thursday. "It’s one of the directives of PNP Chief [Jesus Versoza]," Espina said, denying that the order is a penalty. There is a shortage of an estimated 200 police personnel in the area after all the cops in the region were relieved when the massacre took place, Espina explained. The PNP earlier filed administrative cases against the 70 erring police personnel. Of these cases, 10 have "aggravating circumstances." PNP Chief Versoza also gave an order to resolve the case in one month, Espina said. From January 10 to June 9, some 3,049 people had been arrested and 2,654 firearms seized, the PNP said. - RJAB Jr./LBG, GMANews.TV