ILOILO City – Beginning Monday, June 5, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will accept applications for gun ban exemption in line with the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Applications for the issuance of a certificate of authority must be filed electronically before the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC) until Nov. 15.
Atty. Dennis Ausan, Comelec-6 director, said the poll body opened the applications early so that certificates of authority can be issued as soon as possible.
“Ginkapamaayo sang commission nga tempranuhon kay there was this experience before nga kadugay mag-abot sang aton exemption. Nagaabot na ang election period wala pa ang exemption,” said Ausan in an interview with Panay News.
The gun ban will take effect once the election period for barangay and SK elections begins on Aug. 28 to Nov. 29.
During the election period, 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 commission.
The CBFSC shall grant full exemption from the ban on the bearing, carrying and transporting of firearms, and to transport or deliver firearms and/or its parts, ammunitions and/or its components, and explosives/and or its components, to the following government officials and personnel: the President, Vice President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (SC), the Senate President; all incumbent senators; House of Representatives Speaker; all members of the House; and all justices of the SC, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals.
Also included in the exemption list are all judges of the regional, municipal, and metropolitan trial courts; the Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman, and investigators and prosecutors of the Ombudsman; the prosecutor general, chief state prosecutor, state prosecutors, and prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ); and officials and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Likewise given automatic exemption are cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, and assistant secretaries, election officers, provincial election supervisors, and regional election directors.
The officers and members of other law enforcement agencies/entities, officers of departments, divisions, offices performing law enforcement and security functions, officers and personnel of jails and corrections facilities, officers and members of the intelligence and investigative divisions, officers and members of the DOJ, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and officers of several other public offices and institutions are also exempted.
Because of this, Ausan encouraged those who wish to apply for the exemption to take note of the schedule and apply earlier.
“Filing of applications shall be made through electronic means, taking advantage of the current information technology advancements, adopting the principle of efficient government service delivery, addressing the geo-logistical challenges in some regions, and for mutual safety under the new normal,” read part of the resolution.
Applicants must visit and access the official website of the Commission at www.comelec.gov.ph.
Gun ban violation is considered an election offense that carries a penalty of one to six years imprisonment without the possibility of probation and results in one’s loss of the right to vote and perpetual disqualification from holding public office. (With a report from Philippine News Agency)/PN
