MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo on Friday said that he has imposed a province-wide gun ban in Cagayan.

Bacalzo said that he suspended the permit to carry firearms outside residence in the whole province due to the alarming increase in the number of shooting incidents.

The top police official cited the shooting of Tuguegarao City Mayor Delfin Ting on Monday.

Bacalzo said that he has told Chief Superintendent Francisco Villaroman, Cagayan Valley regional police director, to immediately implement his directive and declare Cagayan as a “gun-free” province.

Ting was standing in front of the Delfin Hotel and Restaurant when he was shot by an unidentified gunman.

The mayor sustained a gunshot wound in the face. He has been transferred to a hospital in Manila. – Report from Noel Alamar, radio dzMM