PNP opens application for gun ban exemption

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday started accepting applications for exemption on the ban on firearms and security detail for the May 2022 elections.

PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said the task would be part of its cooperation with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), particularly in processing certifications of authority by assessing the threat being faced by an applicant.

“The PNP will assist in the issuance of threat assessment and will endorse the approval to grant gun ban exemption if it is deemed urgent and necessary,” Carlos said in a statement.

The applications for gun ban exemption will run until May 25 next year, the PNP said.

The gun ban will take effect on Jan. 9 next year until June 8.

Applications can be filed online through the Comelec website.

Under Comelec Resolution 10728, civilians are not allowed to carry and transport firearms in public places even if they have a license unless they are authorized by the poll body.

Civilians are also barred from employing security services, whether private or from government forces, unless allowed by the Comelec.

The PNP said it would start notifying politicians whose police escorts were unauthorized that their security detail would be recalled and be subjected to VIP Security and Protection Refresher Course.

Earlier, Carlos said the PNP would be reviewing the deployment of police escorts to determine whether they were authorized or not.

Following the review, the PNP will be deploying police escorts based on the Comelec’s directive.

Exempted from the recall of security detail are the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, chief justice, secretaries of Defense, Interior and Local Government, Comelec chairman and commissioners, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, AFP Major Service commanders, PNP chief and senior police officers.