MANILA, Philippines — The PNP on Wednesday said it is terminating the election gun ban after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
The village polls were initially scheduled on October 23 this year but are now moved to the second Monday of May of 2018.
“We are only conducting gun ban because of the elections and since postponed na ‘yung [elections] (the elections is postponed,) we are also postponing the gun ban,” the PNP said.
The Commission on Elections set September 23 as the start of gun ban. PNP then started prohibiting firearms and weapons.
READ: Barangay, SK election gun ban to start September 23 | Duterte moves barangay, SK polls to May 2018
Despite the postponement of the barangay and SK elections, the PNP said violation of the firearms ban is still effective for those arrested during the gun ban period.
The poll body then imposed a prohibition on the transport and delivery of gun parts, ammunition and explosives as well as their components.
According to the PNP, from October 1 to 5, 52 persons were arrested for carrying firearms while 47 firearms were confiscated during the same period.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the RA 10952 or the law postponing the village elections on October 2 but the signed copy of the law was released by the Palace on October 4.
Due to this, the Comelec ordered agencies to suspend all activities in relation to the postponed elections.