EVEN before the start of election period on January 13, the Police Regional Office (PRO) in Davao Region will start implementing the gun ban next week.
In an interview PRO-Davao regional spokesperson Police Chief Inspector Jason Baria said they will enforce the gun ban next week and even after the midterm election in May.
“May joint checkpoint tayo na AFP-PNP (Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police) during election. Same na ginagawa natin during election period so meron tayong random and routinary checkpoints,” Baria said.
Baria encouraged those who wish to get exemption from the gun ban to apply for the appropriate certificate of authority at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) through the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP).
He warned anew that violators will be arrested and charged with the election offense for illegaly carrying firearms under the Omnibus Election Code.
Starting January 13 to June 12, which is the election period, the issuance of firearms licenses will also be suspended.
Under Section 32, of the Republic Act (RA) 7166 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, no person shall bear firearms in public places including any building, street, park, private vehicles, public conveyance, even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the Comelec.
As defined in RA 10591, firearms refers to any handheld or portable weapon, whether a small or light weapon, that expels or is designated to expel a bullet, shot, slug, missile or any projectile, which is discharged by means of expansive force of gases from burning gunpowder or other form of combustion or any similar instrument or implement, wherein the barrel, frame or receiver is considered a firearm.
A Unity Walk is also set at the start of the election period to drumbeat their call for a secure and fair elections which will start at Roxas Avenue and end at Rizal Park.
It can be recalled that the regional police office recommended a total of 43 municipalities and six cities in the region to be included in the election watchlist areas (EWAs) for the midterm elections in 2019. However, Baria said that they will assess again should there be a need for elimination or addition of hotspot areas.