ILOILO City – From yesterday until Oct. 8, permits to carry firearms outside residence (PTCFOR) are suspended.
Only uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other government forces are allowed to carry firearms, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, regional police spokesperson.
The gun ban aims to keep the period for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the May 2022 elections peaceful.
Gun holders and government forces who are in civilian clothes will be arrested if they are caught carrying guns.
“This is only for one week…We have men conducting day and night checkpoints,” Solis said.
The first day of COC filing for the May 2022 elections was generally peaceful, according to Solis.
Solis said as of 4 p.m. yesterday PRO-6 had not received reports of untoward incidents.
“We coordinated with the city and provincial police directors. Everything is in order and peaceful. This was maybe because we have a low number of candidates who filed their COCs during the first day,” Solis said.
On the other hand, Police Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director, checked the Commission on Elections offices in his area yesterday. He said health protocols were properly observed.
The ICPO director also discouraged aspiring candidates to hold caravans before or after COC filing “to make sure nga wala may naga-violate sang health protocols.”/PN
