THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) has began setting up checkpoints beginning Friday midnight, April 13, to mark the start of the election period for the barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan elections.
Police Superintendent Mardy Hortillosa, Cocpo spokesperson, said the setting up of checkpoints coincided with the start of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) on Saturday, April 14.
The checkpoints are being set up region-wide to intensify enforcement of the gun ban and other prohibited acts during election period.
Persons carrying firearms without the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) permission must ensure their guns are left at home, Hortillosa said.
A Comelec resolution requires each city to have at least one Comelec checkpoint, but the police and the military can set up their own checkpoints to ensure peace and security.
Aside from the carrying of firearms and deadly weapons during this period, the poll body also prohibits the use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates unless authorized by the Comelec, coercing, and threatening, intimidating or terrorizing any election official or employee in the performance of his election functions or duties, among others.
Barangay and SK elections will be on May 14, while the election period ends on May 21. (Pamela Jay Orias)