6 ASEAN Summit gun ban violators nabbed

Local

SIX persons were arrested for violating the gun ban that was imposed while the 48th ASEAN Summit is being held in Lapu-Lapu City.

Aside from the six arrests, police also seized nine firearms since the gun ban was enforced last May 4. The gun ban will be in effect until May 11.

The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO) said three firearms were also surrendered.

Brig. Gen. Arnold Abad, chief of PRO-7, commended the police units for strictly enforcing the gun ban meant to ensure a peaceful holding of the summit.

“PRO7 has deployed full-scale security operations in close coordination with partner agencies to ensure strict enforcement of the gun ban,” said Abad.

Col. Kimberly Molitas, the PRO-7’s spokesperson for the ASEAN Summit, said the gun ban plays a key role in the peaceful conduct of the regional event.

Molitas said no major issues have been encountered so far while the ASEAN Summit 2026 Task Group Central Visayas gears up for the smmut.

Some lapses in the enforcement of security measures have been ironed out through simulation exercises, Molitas said.

Molitas said security will be particularly strict in Lapu where 15 heads of state will be arriving.

Molitas said the police force in the region have prepared for the summit for a year.

“Hopefully wala tayong magiging problema. Cebu has always been known to be very peaceful. Sa lahat ng events po na na host ng Cebu, historically, we have not had any problems,” said Molitas.

Molitas added that a lockdown in some roads in Lapu-Lapu will be conducted to secure the delegates.

The lockdown will only last for 10-15 minutes to allow the convoy of the heads of state to pass through without delay, said Molitas.(CDB)