GUN ban will not be imposed in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) during the conduct of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the country.
Police Colonel Glenn Lonogan, chief of the Regional Learning Doctrine Division of Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO-COR), said the gun ban will only take effect in several regions and in the province of La Union.
Lonogan said PRO-COR is anticipating the deployment of additional police personnel coming from the region as augmentation force during the conduct of the sporting event.
Gun ban will take effect in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and La Union from November 20 to December 14 to ensure peace and security during the conduct of the 30th SEA Games in the country.
It can be recalled that a memorandum dated November 18 and issued by the director of Philippine National Police’s Civil Security Group (CSG) stated that all permits to carry firearms outside of residence in these areas are suspended during the 30th SEA Games 2019.
Only members of the PNP, Armed Forces, and other law enforcement agencies that are performing official duties, are in agency-prescribed uniforms, and are participants to the 30th SEA Games 2019 shooting competition will be allowed to carry firearms, it further said.
The suspension of the permits to carry firearms during the SEA Games is part of the security preparations to ensure that the activities will be free from firearms-related incidents and to ensure the safety of the populace as well as of the local and foreign athletes, according to the memo.
In another memorandum dated November 19, 2019, the PNP Directorate for Operations sets the guidelines for the grant of special permits to transport (PPT) firearms, explosives and explosive ingredients from and to specific locations during the suspension period from November 20 to December 14.
“In this regard, concerned Regional Directors can issue special PPTs pursuant to the provisions of RA No. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and its RIRR (Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations) to certain individuals and entities that fit certain criteria,” said the order.
The approval of special permits for the transport/movement and/or shipment of explosives/explosives ingredients from the point of origin to the point of destination shall be at the discretion of the C, FEO (Firearms and Explosives Office), CSG, the memo stated.
The 2019 SEA Games will officially open in November 30 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan with various sporting events taking place in Manila, Subic, Clark, and other venues until December 11.