Police seized seven firearms, multiple rounds of ammunition, and 1.29 grams of shabu during checkpoint operations in Cabanatuan City on Sunday morning as the election period officially began.
The operation also resulted in the arrest of eight individuals.
Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office director, Col. Ferdinand Germino, said checkpoints were strategically set up across the city, including key areas along Maharlika Highway in Barangay San Juan Accfa and Barangay Sumacab Este.
Similar checkpoints in San Leonardo, Gapan, Jaen, Quezon, and Talavera towns also yielded additional arrests and seizures, though detailed reports are pending.
The operations involved the Provincial Police Office, Tactical Motorcycle Reaction Unit, and Cabanatuan City Police, alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 84th Infantry Battalion and 7th Infantry Division.
Commission on Elections officials and force multipliers actively supported the efforts.
Germino emphasized strict adherence to checkpoint protocols and personally visited officers in Barangay Rizal, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, to boost their morale.
“Our commitment is to uphold peace, order, and the rule of law throughout the election period,” Germino said. (PNA)