THE Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Davao said that they are still accepting application for gun ban exemption for qualified individuals and entities who seek to carry firearms during the national and local elections in May.
“Application for gun ban, until now, tinatanggap pa rin natin. Mag-end ‘yan until May 29,” Comelec-Davao spokesperson lawyer Krisna Samantha Caballero said.
The gun ban took effect last January 13 during the start of election period until June 12 and carrying and transporting firearms and other deadly weapons within this period is considered an election offense as provided for in Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.
Under the Comelec Resolution No. 10446, some persons and entities may be qualified to seek exemption to the gun ban as long as they apply for appropriate Certificate of Authority (CA) at the Comelec Committee on Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBSFP) in Intramuros, Manila. Without CA, they can be arrested for gun ban violation.
Law enforcers are exempted from the gun ban provided that they are in duty status.
Since the start of Comelec gun ban, Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 has already recorded a total of six individuals arrested for possession of firearms while one was killed when he fought back with the authorities during the operation. (JCR)