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LUCENA CITY — The Philippine National Police (PNP) started imlementing on Thursday, June 8, a gun ban in Carmona town in Cavite province to prepare for a plebiscite for cityhood on July 8.
Colonel Christopher Olazo, Cavite police chief, in a video-recorded interview on Wednesday night, said the police would establish one Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint and two more security checkpoints at the town’s entry and exit points for the enforcement of the gun ban that would end on July 15.
The military and other government law enforcement agencies will assist the police during the gun ban period.
The PNP has suspended for the plebiscite period the validity of all permits to carry firearms outside of residence issued to licensed firearm holders, juridical entities, and members of government law enforcement agencies in Carmona.
Also suspended were permits issued by the PNP to transport firearms, ammunition, explosives, public firearms displays and exhibits, as well as employment of security personnel for important persons.
As a general rule, only bonafide police, military, and members of local government law enforcement agencies in complete uniform, and while on official duty, are allowed to carry firearms during the plebiscite period.
Exemption from the firearms prohibition may be secured from the Comelec.
The PNP has also deployed 100 policemen to help maintain peace and order during the campaign period and on the plebiscite day, Olazo said.
On Feb. 23, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 11938 converting Carmona into a component city of Cavite.
A plebiscite among Carmona residents is all that is left for the law to take effect.
The Comelec will conduct the plebiscite on July 8 based on its Resolution No. 10901. The poll body has scheduled the information and campaign period from June 8 to July 6.
Malacañang has declared the date a special non-working day in Carmona.
With a month to go before the plebiscite, no group has come out so far to campaign for the rejection of the cityhood bid.
Carmona, a first-class municipality, has 14 barangays with a population of 106,256 as of the 2020 census.
Once ratified in a plebiscite, Carmona will become the 8th city in Cavite, joining Bacoor, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Imus, Tagaytay, Trece Martires, and Cavite.