ILOILO City – Across Western Visayas, 179 persons have been arrested for violating the election gun ban as of Feb. 17. The prohibition started on Jan. 13.
A total of 173 firearms were confiscated, too.
The other recoveries were two gun replicas, 47 bladed weapons, five hand grenades and 765 bullets, data from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) showed.
The gun ban seeks to prevent unlawful elements such as private armed groups and guns-for-hire from intimidating, injuring or killing anyone during the election season.
The midterm elections are on May 13.
During the gun ban period, all licenses to carry firearms outside of residences are suspended. Only members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement units will be issued written permits by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to carry firearms. But they have to be in their complete uniforms.
Of the 179 arrested violators, 172 were civilians; the others were security guards and elected officials, PRO-6 records showed.
During the one-month period, 209 firearms were voluntarily surrendered by gun holders for safekeeping while they were renewing their expired licenses.
“The gun ban will be until June 12,” said Superintendent Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson. “We expect more arrests through police operations and checkpoints.”
She again appealed to gun holders with no special permits from Comelec to surrender their guns.
“Local candidates are also our focus, especially those who have private armed groups,” said Malong.
As provided for in Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, violating the gun ban is an election offense.
Violators face imprisonment not less than one year but not more than six years.
Erring uniformed personnel, on the other hand, faces dismissal from the service.
Pursuant to Comelec Resolution No. 10446, qualified persons and entities may seek exemption to 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./PNs
