Gun ban up for Baliwag cityhood plebiscite  

MALOLOS, Philippines  – Carrying or transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons in Baliwag, Bulacan was banned starting yesterday as part of preparations for the conduct of a plebiscite that seeks to turn the town into a component city.

In a four-page resolution promulgated on Nov. 16, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it has started implementing measures related to the holding of the Baliwag plebiscite on Dec. 17.

The gun ban will remain in effect within the plebiscite period or until Dec. 24.

The poll body said the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds as well as issuance of treasury warrants are also prohibited within the period.

Submission of the lists of authorized public works projects also started yesterday and will run until Dec. 16, or a day before the holding of the plebiscite, the Comelec said.

The Baliwag plebiscite is pursuant to Republic Act 11929, which was signed on July 30. Voting will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The electoral exercise was initially scheduled on Jan. 14, 2023.

But the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections prompted the Comelec to move the activity to an earlier date.

From Dec. 5 this year, the barangay and SK elections were rescheduled to October next year.