MANILA, Philippines - A total gun ban is in effect nationwide starting today until Nov. 10.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said the gun ban has suspended all permits to carry firearms outside residence.
“We are calling on the public not to bring their firearms outside residence as the police and military authorities would set up checkpoints starting Saturday,” he said.
Police will enforce a liquor ban on Oct. 24, a day before the barangay and SK elections, he added.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said the gun ban would help minimize violence during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Oct. 25.
“Except those constituting the normal security personnel complement of the incumbent president, vice president, Senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, chief justice of the Supreme Court, secretary of national defense, secretary of interior and local government, chairman and commissioners of the Comelec, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and AFP major service commanders, director generals of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and senior officers and the members of the foreign diplomatic corps, all existing authority granting security personnel or bodyguards are hereby revoked at the start of the election period,” read Comelec resolution 9028.
Authorized to carry firearms are members of the PNP, AFP and other law enforcement agencies, provided that they are in proper uniform and on duty.
“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,” read Republic Act 7166, the act providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms.
The Comelec allows incumbent public officers and private individuals to apply for security details from the police, military or the National Bureau of Investigation and security escorts from authorized private protective agencies.
Other public officials, candidates in the barangay and SK polls and private individuals shall apply with the Comelec if they want to have a security detail or bodyguard.
“The application shall be accompanied by a threat assessment issued by the AFP or PNP or such document to support the existence of threat, if any. A filing fee of P1,000 shall be charged for each application,” read the Comelec resolution.
2,300 barangays being watched
Police are watching 2,300 of the 42,025 barangays nationwide for the presence of the New People’s Army and other armed groups on election day on Oct. 25.
PNP chief Bacalzo said police and the military aim to dismantle private armed groups to prevent hostilities and ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections.
“I would like to emphasize that the police and military establishments are doing our level best to ensure security in the forthcoming synchronized barangay and SK elections,” he said.
“(After) the success of the May 10 national and local elections, we are replicating the template of the security measures.”
Bacalzo said he and Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo David have signed an agreement to define the roles of the police and military to ensure smooth and coordinated action in implementing election security measures.
“In essence, the PNP-AFP Joint Letter Directive requires both institutions to work closely together in the establishment of Joint Security Control Centers at the regional, provincial city and municipal levels nationwide,” he said.
Bacalzo said he has recalled police escorts to VIPs to prevent them from being utilized as partisan armed groups to advance the candidacy of certain candidates for barangay posts.
“In May we elected our national and local leaders in what can be regarded as the most orderly and peaceful elections ever in the history of Philippine politics,” he said.
Meanwhile, David sees no need for troops to guard every polling precinct during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
“(The AFP will) assist the PNP just in case they need it in the area,” he said.
“There will be an alert here at the GHQ (general headquarters) but we will not go to the level of the precinct.”
David said soldiers will only be sent to places that police would identify.
“Usually these are the conflict areas such as most areas in Mindanao, in Abra, in Masbate,” he said.
“It (limiting military deployment) would show that there is political stability… The role of the armed forces will always be to (maintain) peace and security only.”
David said military ground commanders can assess the situation in their areas.
“For example, in Metro Manila, I think there is no need for a large amount of troops,” he said.
“The PNP can respond to the security situation here. However, we will have alert units here at the general headquarters.”
The military has identified Western Mindanao, Central Mindanao, Davao Region, Samar, Abra and Masbate as among the possible poll hotspots. —Alexis Romero, Mike Frialde