THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will implement a gun ban in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Davao Region in preparation for the inauguration of incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, an official said on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.
PNP Directorate for Operations Major General Valeriano De Leon said the gun ban will start in Metro Manila at midnight of June 27 until July 2.
In Davao, the gun ban will be effective from 12:01 a.m. of June 16 until June 21.
Duterte-Carpio will take her oath in Davao City on June 19 while Marcos’ inauguration will be held at the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila on June 30.
“This was already approved by our [officer-in-charge] PNP [Police Lieutenant General] Vicente Danao Jr. and the suspension covers the period of full preparations, deployment and implementations of the security measures for the oath-taking events of the two highest ranking officials of the country,” said De Leon.
“Violation of the PNP order on Permit to Carry Firearms Outside Residence (PTCFOR) suspension within the period of implementation may result in the confiscation of firearms and revocation of the PTCFOR for registered gun owners and PTCFOR holders, aside from appropriate charges that may be filed against them,” he added.
De Leon said the PNP will establish a checkpoint in strategic areas for the enforcement of the gun ban.
De Leon said they will also implement a no fly and no sail zone in the vicinity where the inauguration of the two top officials will be held.
He said they are also planning to ask telecommunication companies to turn off cellular signals in the areas as preventive measures against any possible untoward incident.
De Leon said at least 3,700 policemen will be tapped to secure the oathtaking of Duterte-Carpio while at least 6,000 will be deployed for the conduct of security operations during the assumption of Marcos.
He said more personnel from other security agencies such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard and other allied forces will be deployed for border control.
He said that Civil Disturbance Management units will also be deployed to implement the road closures during the two big events.
For those groups planning to stage picket protests during the said events, De Leon urged them to do it in an orderly manner and in freedom parks.
He said any attempt from the protesters to get near the inauguration sites will be disrupted.
De Leon, however, reminded police to observe maximum tolerance to avoid any untoward incident.
He said container vans will be placed in the vicinity of the inauguration sites to prevent rallyists from getting near should the need arise.
Although no groups have yet to seek permits to public assembly in Davao and Manila, De Leon said they have monitored several groups preparing to conduct protest actions.
The City Government of Manila earlier imposed a “no permit, no rally” in their areas of jurisdiction.
De Leon said they are continuously verifying all the possible threats to disrupt the peace and order of the two events. (SunStar Philippines)