Another gun ban starts on Sept. 25

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will impose restrictions on barangay officials and will again enforce a gun ban when the election period starts on Sept. 25 for the barangay and youth polls.

The Comelec en banc recently approved its calendar of activities for the Oct. 25 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

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Candidates must file their certificates on Oct. 1 to 3, and the ban on infrastructure projects takes effect on Oct. 18.

Under Comelec Resolution 9019, other prohibited acts during the election period, which starts in three weeks, will include creating a new precinct.

Organizing or maintaining reaction or strike forces is also disallowed, as well as the transfer of government employees, including public school teachers, and the suspension of any elective official.

The use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates, whether or not such bodyguards are regular members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or other government law enforcement agencies, will be prohibited.

The election period will end on Nov. 10.

Lawyer Edwin Cadungog, one of Cebu City’s election officers, said the certificates of candidacy have to be filed from Oct. 1 to 13.

The poll body has also set Oct. 14 to 23 as the campaign period.

Beginning Oct. 18, the construction or maintenance of provincial, city, municipal, or barangay-funded roads and bridges will be prohibited.

In the same period, appointing or using police operatives or special confidential agents will also be disallowed.

On Election Day, Comelec said the casting of votes will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (PDF)