Report: Rizal vice mayor yields firearm at checkpoint

A vice mayor of Rizal province faces possible charges for violating an election gun ban after yielding a 9-mm pistol during a checkpoint operation in Quezon City. While Rodriguez town vice mayor Jonas Cruz presented documents for the firearm, police are checking his exemption from the ban was proper. Radio dzBB's Cecilia Villarosa cited belated police reports that the incident occurred before dawn Tuesday, when Cruz's Nissan Urvan (NVQ-608) was flagged down at a police checkpoint in Payatas village. Police found a 9-mm pistol and magazine with 10 rounds of ammunition under the van's matting. The report said Cruz, 35, presented papers including permit to carry firearms, but police said they are still checking with the Commission on Elections to see if he has a proper gun ban exemption. Since September 25, the Philippine National Police have been implementing a gun ban for the Oct. 25 barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections. As of Wednesday morning, dzBB reported at least 22 have been caught violating the gun ban since Saturday. — LBG, GMANews.TV