Comelec issues guidelines for poll gun ban exemption

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday released guidelines to avail exemptions to the gun ban, which will be imposed for the May 2019 elections.

Carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons will be prohibited during the election period or from January 13, 2019 to June 12, 2019, according to the poll body. 

But under Comelec Resolution No. 10446, qualified persons may seek the exemption from the gun ban by applying for Certificate of Authority (CA) at the Comelec through the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP).

The poll body said application forms and requirements for the CA may be submitted to the CBFSP office at Comelec’s main office in Intramuros, Manila starting December 1, 2018 up to May 29, 2019.

The Comelec said, unless properly covered by the prescribed certificate, any permit to bring firearms outside one’s residence or place of business will be “ineffective and without force and effect during the 2019 election period.”

It also reminded security personnel and bodyguards that they need to obtain the CA for their service firearms, as they are not currently exempted from the gun ban rule during the election period.

Delivering firearms, ammunition, explosives and other components are banned as well during the election period unless authorized by CBFSP, it added.

The Comelec said violation of the gun ban is an election offense as provided under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code. 

Under the Omnibus Election Code, any person found guilty of any election offense may be “punished with imprisonment of not less than one year but more than six years” as well as suffer”disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage.” /kga