ILOILO City – A security guard and two other persons were arrested during the first day of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) gun ban yesterday.
The security guard was 45-year-old Antonio Francisco of Barangay Canabajan, Calinog, Iloilo. He was caught at a police checkpoint around 12:45 a.m. in Barangay Poblacion, Calinog.
Police seized from Francisco a .38 revolver.
The security guard had a gun license but had not sought exemption from the gun ban from the Comelec. He was detained at the Calinog police station.
During the gun ban period (Jan. 13 to June 12, also the election period), all licenses to carry firearms outside of residences are suspended.
“We will further intensify our 24-hour checkpoints,” said Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police director.
Members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement units are exempted from the gun ban but they have to be in their complete uniforms.
The two other apprehended gun ban violators yesterday were Dina Licera, 54, of Barangay Amamaros, Pototan, Iloilo and Gil Halang, 45, of Barangay Nagba, Cuartero, Capiz.
Licera was caught around 12:01 a.m. during a buy-bust operation. She yielded a .45 pistol.
Licera was detained at the Pototan police station.
Halang, on the other hand, was arrested in Barangay San Rafael, Dumalag, Capiz around 1:30 a.m.
A .45 pistol was recovered from Halang. He was taken to the Dumalag police station.
Violating the gun ban is an election offense, as provided for in Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code. Violators face imprisonment not less than one year but not more than six years.
Pursuant to Comelec Resolution No. 10446, qualified persons and entities may seek exemption from the gun ban and other prohibited acts by applying for the appropriate Certificate of Authority (CA) at the Comelec through the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP).
Application forms and requirements for the issuance of a CA must be submitted to the CBFSP Office at the Comelec main office from Dec. 1, 2018 to May 29, 2019.
Unless properly covered by a CA, any permit to carry firearm/s outside one’s residence or place of business will be ineffective and without force and effect during the election period.
The gun ban seeks to prevent unlawful elements such as private armed groups and gun-for-hire groups from intimidating, injuring or killing anyone during the election season./PN
