A 26-YEAR-OLD man who pretended to be a member of the Philippine Navy faces trial for violating the election gun ban.
The Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office on Monday found sufficient basis to indict Mark Solon who, on Feb. 9, brought a homemade Caspian .45 caliber pistol and a magazine loaded with eight live ammunitions inside the Qimonda IT Center, Cebu City’s temporary Regional Trial Court (RTC) courthouse, located at the North Reclamation Area.
Solon, who wore a printed Army green shirt, claimed to be a member of the Navy when accosted by the police at the hallway of the building’s third floor, where the RTC salas are located. But he could not show any identification card to prove his claim.
He also failed to present an authority to carry a firearm.
When presented before City Prosecutor Noel Cellona, Solon waived the right to a preliminary investigation, which could have given him the chance to submit a counter affidavit and refute the allegations against them.
The prosecutor then recommended the filing of charges against Solon in court and set a bail at P12,000 for his temporary liberty.
During the election period (Jan. 10–June 8, 2016), the law prohibits anyone from “bearing, carrying or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park, private vehicle or public conveyance, even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the Commission on Elections.