MANILA, Philippines -- Manila Vice Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso wants journalists exempted from the election gun ban relative to the 2010 polls.

In a resolution he filed before the City Council, Domagoso, who is also its presiding officer, condemned the Maguindanao massacre wherein journalists were among the victims.

Domagoso said the massacre was a wake-up call regarding the plight of media practitioners in the country.

"I happen to mingle with certain journalists who carry guns whenever I am invited as a guest in shooting competitions and I learned that all of them bought their guns with their own money," the vice mayor said. "So the least the government can do is to allow them to carry their guns freely especially during the election period when the hazards they will be facing are expected to be higher."

He said the journalists he knew were responsible gun owners.

"Undeniably, what happened in Maguindanao is election-related. What assurance do we have that there will be no election-related violence even here in Metro Manila involving media members?" Domagoso said.

He, however, clarified that the grant of exemption should be preceded by the necessary background check on the gun holders.