ILOILO City – The election period for the May 2022 elections begins next week – from Jan. 9 to June 8, 2022.
There will be a gun ban, said Atty. Wilfred Jay Balisado, director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Region 6, to maintain peace and order.
To enforce this, there will be checkpoints.
“In every municipality dapat mayroong checkpoint na i-establish para ma-implement natin ang gun ban,” Balisado told Panay News.
He cited past elections when some areas were declared as spots of concern.
“May mga areas na prone to violence. Para ma-minimize if hindi man ma-stop totally ‘yong mga killings relative sa mga kandidato and supporters, Comelec decided t have a total gun ban,” said Balisado.
Resolution No. 10728 of Comelec issued on Nov. 10, 2021 set rules and regulations covering the following:
(a) on the bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons
(b) employment, availment or engagement of the services of security personnel or bodyguards during the election period
Carrying firearms outside residence or place of business is prohibited.
The ban, however, “shall not apply to cashiers and disbursing officers while in the performance of their duties or to persons who, by nature of their official duties, profession, business or occupation, habitually carry large sums of money or valuables.”
Who may bear firearms?
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 issuance of firearms license shall be suspended during the election period.
Only regular members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies of the government who are duly deputized in writing by the Commission for election duty may be authorized to carry and possess firearms during the election period.
When in possession of firearms, the deputized law enforcement officer must be:
* in full uniform showing clearly and legibly his name, rank, and serial number which shall remain visible at all times
* in the actual performance of his election duty in the specific area designated by the Commission/PN
