MANILA, Philippines?The Commission on Elections have included the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs) among the list of agencies authorized to carry firearms during the election period.

In a resolution issued on Jan. 11, the Comelec said members of the CAFGUs, the Presidential Security Group, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Treasury officials, Optical Media Board and members of the security personnel of foreign diplomatic corps are allowed to carry and transport firearms to be able to dispense their duties.

?The CAFGUs are under the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) so when we say the exemption on AFP includes ?all units,? they are part of it,? Comelec commissioner Lucenito Tagle said. Tagle heads the poll body?s Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel.

The nationwide gun ban prohibits those who are not included in the exemption from carrying and transporting firearms during the election period, which lasts until June 9, even if they have the license for it. The Comelec hopes that the total gun ban would lessen election-related violence ahead of the May 10 national polls.

Tagle said the AFP is ?answerable? to police the members of the CAFGUs, who are often accused of joining private armies of local politicians. ?We told them to be strict about it,? he said.

In the first two days of the gun ban implementation, which started on Jan. 10, at least 48 people were arrested by the PNP, including government officials, policemen and army personnel, for violating it.

Tagle said those who were apprehended should not appeal ignorance of the law.

?I think there has been enough campaign to tell them that come January 10, no one can carry their firearms,? Tagle said.