Election period kicks off; gun ban in force

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will begin enforcing the nationwide gun ban on Sunday, the start of the election period for the May 2016 polls.

In Resolution No. 9981, the poll body listed prohibited acts during the election period which will last until June 8.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the election period is important as it defines the span of time during which the poll body exercises extraordinary powers, for purposes of ensuring honest, orderly and peaceful election.

“It is also the time during which the campaign period is set, which itself is potentially a very disruptive period in the sense that people tend to be caught up in the polarization that is normal to elections,” Jimenez said.

During the election period, the law provides that no person shall bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park, private vehicle or public conveyance, even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the Comelec.

The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will set up checkpoints under the supervision of the Comelec as part of security precautions.

Comelec checkpoints to be manned by local police will be set up in every city and town to implement the gun ban and prevent election-related violence.

“Only a visual search of the vehicle is allowed at the checkpoints… the officer simply looks into the vehicle and flashes a light in there without opening the car’s door,” the Comelec said.

Cops ready

Meanwhile, the PNP is geared up for the start of the election period which begins today, 120 days ahead of the May 9 elections.

Last week, the PNP announced it would recall police personnel detailed as security to VIPs, and begin implementation of the gun ban today.

This is in accordance with Comelec Resolution No. 10015, which prohibits the carrying of firearms and the use of police bodyguards during the election period from Jan. 10 to June 8.

In a briefing on Wednesday, the PNP Security and Protection Group (PSPG) said it would recall by today some 700 policemen assigned as bodyguards to both public officials and private individuals.

Supt. Rogelio Simon, PSPG spokesperson, said the PNP had sent recall letters to the VIPs and officials beginning Dec. 10. The police personnel were directed to report to PNP Headquarters at Camp Crame on Jan. 11 for accounting.

PSPG head Chief Supt. Alfred Corpus said the recalled personnel will undergo retraining and will be reassigned to key units of the PSPG, “particularly the vital installation protection unit, which also secures the Comelec.”

Corpus advised the VIPs and officials who may continue to need protection—whether or they are running in the elections or not—to get clearance from the Comelec.

But, said Corpus, should the Comelec allow it, the bodyguards will not be policemen but civilian security personnel from PNP-accredited agencies.

On Friday, PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said the election gun ban will be in force beginning today.

Earlier, Mayor said the PNP will put up checkpoints to implement the gun ban.

During the ban period, only authorized personnel, such as from the PNP and the AFP, will be allowed to carry firearms under certain conditions.

Hot spots

In another development, Mayor confirmed that six provinces continued to top the list of “election watchlist areas” (EWAs), namely, Pangasinan, Masbate, Negros Oriental, Western Samar, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

Back in December, PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez had said these provinces had the most number of municipalities declared as EWAs—described as election hotspots due to intense political rivalry in the area, flare-ups of election-related or politically motivated violence, the presence of armed groups and the proliferation of loose firearms.

Marquez had run down figures showing that 286 municipalities—or 17.5 percent of the 1,490 towns in the Philippines—had been placed under three EWA categories: 133 towns under Category 1 which means the existence of intense political rivalries; 54 under Category 2, towns with a presence of threat groups like the New People’s Army or the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters; and 99 towns under Category 3, which had both political rivalries and threat groups.

At the same December press forum, PNP Deputy for Intelligence Director Generoso Cerbo Jr. had said the PNP was monitoring 76 active private armed groups with 1,731 members nationwide. Of these groups, 69 were based in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, he said.