THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has set up Commission on Election (Comelec) checkpoints in strategic areas nationwide for the implementation of the six-month gun ban as part of security measures for the midterm elections in May.
The gun ban took effect at 12:01 of January 13, Sunday. It will end on June 12.
It means carrying of firearms and explosives outside one’s residence is prohibited. Processing of licenses for gun owners is also suspended during the gun ban.
PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said only on-duty policemen, soldiers and other law enforcers are exempted from the gun ban.
The gun ban seeks to prevent unlawful elements, such as private armed groups and gun-for-hire groups, from intimidating, injuring or killing anyone during the election season.
Through the conduct of checkpoints, the PNP seeks to intercept guns, explosives and other instruments of violence.
Policemen, however, are allowed to conduct only visual inspection at checkpoints.
Authorities can only ask the passengers to get out of the vehicle if they identified him/her as a subject of an arrest warrant.
Albayalde reminded the public to roll down the car windows and turn on the light inside the vehicle when passing through a checkpoint to avoid being the subject of suspicion and causing a traffic jam.
On Thursday, January 10, the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Comelec conducted an inter-agency conference where they discussed security measures for the upcoming midterm elections.
Albayalde said 77 private armed groups are now being monitored by the government forces, most of which are in Mindanao.
He said these private armed groups are more likely to be tapped by politicians to their advantage during the elections.
Albayalde said 18 cities or municipalities have been identified as areas of concern for possible election-related violence due to political rivalry.
The municipality of Daraga in Albay and Cotabato City in Mindanao were recommended to be placed under Comelec control due to the intense political rivalries there.
Police also cited the killing of Ako Bicol Party-list representative Rodel Batocabe and the New Year’s eve bombing in Cotabato City that killed two people and wounded 32 others as the reasons for the recommendation. (SunStar Philippines)