The police apprehended Tuesday a civilian carrying an unlicensed .45 caliber pistol who became first to be charged with violating the Commission on Election gun ban in Dumaguete City.

Nabbed with a homemade gun was Melvin Cemetara Antipuesto, 23, single, who tried to evade a police checkpoint at the corner of Silliman Avenue and Perdices Street. When he was flagged down, Antipuesto disembarked from the motorcycle in a suspicious manner that caught the attention of the police. Recovered from the utility box of his motorcycle were the .45 cal. pistol with one magazine containing six live ammunition, and eight big sachets containing suspected shabu worth P2,000 each.

A subsequent body search on Antipuesto yielded another small sachet of shabu, P2,010 in cash and a cellphone.

In an interview with the DAILY STAR, Antipuesto admitted that he purchased the gun from his friend in Barangay Bagacay, and that he was about to deliver the banned substance to his "clients."

City police chief, Supt. Dionardo Carlos, said Antipuesto will be charged with violating the PNP no plate-no travel policy, the Comelec gun ban and possession of illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Carlos said, chokepoints and random checkpoints will continue in different areas of the city to prevent crimes.

He advised motorists to bring the required documents while driving, and to stop when flagged down by the police.

Carlos said the police find more reason to stop a moving vehicle if its driver evades police checkpoints.*JG

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