The Guinayangan Republic

Police arrested the mayor of Guinayangan, Quezon, and five others in violation of the election gun ban when the authorities discovered high-powered firearms inside the suspects? vehicle Wednesday, police said in a report Thursday.
Senior Insp. Javier Baasis, Quezon police media relations officer, identified the suspects as Guinayangan Mayor Angel Ardiente Jr.; municipal employees Pablito C. Rodriguez, Jones O. Cambronero Jr. and Jason A. Nosquial; Vicente I. Aman, Ardiente?s security, and Rufo C. Proceso Jr.
The report said agents from the Quezon Provincial Police Office's Intelligence Branch and the Quezon Provincial Public Safety Company in Barangay Sumulong arrested the suspects who were in a Nissan Urvan van with government plate no. SGX-888.
Baasis said "suspicious looking persons" onboard the vehicle had alarmed the authorities, who immediately conducted a visual search inside the van.
The search yielded one Elisco Baby Armalite with serial number RP254994, nine magazines loaded with 154 live ammunitions, one Federal MK9 machine pistol (9-mm) with serial number P0482, four magazines with 65 bullets, one .45 cal. Norinco pistol with two magazines and 18 bullets, and one .45 cal. Charles Daly pistol with one magazine and 8 bullets.
Senior Supt. Ericson Velasquez, Quezon police chief, said all confiscated guns have corresponding licenses, except for the baby Armalite.
The suspects will be charged for violation of Commission on Elections Resolution 9028 or the election gun ban.
The poll body has imposed a nationwide gun ban effective Sept. 25 until Nov. 10 for the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
All permits to carry firearms outside residences given to civilians have been revoked for the duration of the election period.

By Delfin Mallari Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer