BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – Today officially starts the election period for the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Today also starts the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-imposed gun ban and the setting up of police checkpoints.
Except for government law enforcers, no one is allowed to carry guns and other deadly weapons (such as bladed implements) outside of residences unless an exemption is secured from the Comelec, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Also today, Comelec starts accepting certificates of candidacy (COCs) until Sept. 2.
The PRO-6 has activated its security plan, according to Police Major Mary Grace Borio, PRO-6 spokesperson.
“Kami sa Philippine National Police (PNP) wala pili. Basta nag-violate laws aton paga-arestohon,” she told Panay News.
Borio appealed for the public’s cooperation, particularly at checkpoints.
“Gamay nga pasensya kay te syempre bal-an ta man medyo ma-delay ni kita sa aton nga pag byahe. But then kami sa PNP naga-follow man lang sang directives. Ang boss gid diri is ang Comelec,” said Borio.
Too keep the period peaceful and orderly, the PNP is getting help from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and even the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
“We must always be reminded that the business of election is not only the business of the Commission of Elections. It is the business of the entire government. That being the case, there must be a whole-of-government approach in the conduct of the election,” said Comelec Chairperson George Erwin in Manila.
Comelec, PNP and the PCG recently signed a memorandum of agreement on this.
Garcia said with the strong presence of law enforcement, extreme threats to safety like ambush and hostage cases in relation to the timely delivery of election paraphernalia may be prevented./PN
