Comelec announces gun ban in Navotas City

An election gun ban will be enforced in Navotas City until January next year owing to a coming plebiscite in three of its barangays.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued a reminder as it stressed that the election gun ban will apply to the entire city, beginning December 26, 2017, to January 10, 2018.

“Provisions relating to the gun ban on bearing, carrying, or transportation of firearms or other deadly weapons in public places shall apply to all persons within the entire city,” the poll body said.

This was according to Comelec Resolution no. 10239, promulgated last December 18 and signed by its members led by acting Comelec chair Christian Robert Lim.

The Comelec is scheduled to hold plebiscites in Barangays NBBS, Tangos, and Tanza on Jan. 5, 2018.

This is to ratify the division of Barangay NBBS into NBBS Proper, NBBS Kaunlaran, and NBBS Dagat-Dagatan; Barangay Tangos into Tangos North, and Tangos South; and Barangay Tanza into Tanza 1, and Tanza 2.

The election gun ban includes the transport of ammunition and raw materials in the manufacture of firearms and explosives.

Exempted are government officials and employees with law enforcement functions, licensed security personnel, or bodyguards with a written authorization from the Comelec.

Violating the election gun ban is an election offense and carries the penalty of one to six years imprisonment, disqualification to hold public office, and deprivation of the right of suffrage. /cbb