Gun ban takes effect January 13

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Election (Comelec) is gearing forward for an intensified election gun ban starting January 13.

The Comelec as well as the Philippine National Police is reminding those who have been granted permits to carry firearms outside residence that these permits have been suspended until June 12.

Comelec Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor, Atty. Marco Lionel Castillano, said that they are strictly implementing this to help politicians in their campaign and to ensure peaceful conduct of the elections.

Castillano said that the election gun ban is for all public and private citizens and all others except those law enforcers who are in uniform or on duty including the PNP, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the prosecutors.

The Comelec however is issuing gun ban exemptions to those qualified individuals, especially those who are facing threats.

Gun ban violators will face one to six years imprisonment without probation and will be disallowed to vote for five years and to hold public office.

Castillano said they will be meeting other officials in the region to determine what areas to be placed under the Comelec watch list.

He said that the PNP have their own list and that the Comelec would also come up with their own to determine which places are to be considered hotspots. —/FPL (FREEMAN)