Police, military allowed to carry guns during election period

MANILA, Philippines - Police officers and military personnel in uniform as well as law enforcement agents with exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) can carry firearms during the gun ban.

Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, spokesman for the Philippine National Police (PNP), issued the clarification after a member of the Philippine Coast Guard was apprehended for possession of a 9 mm automatic, in violation of the gun ban.

Mayor said only policemen and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including blue guards and other security government agencies are allowed to carry firearms during work hours in their areas of responsibility.

“The penalty for election violation is not less than one year to six years and perpetual disqualification from government service. If you are a government employee, the penalty carries disqualification from re- employment and you cannot vote,” he added.

The Comelec declared the start of the election period last Sunday and set up checkpoints nationwide to implement the gun ban.

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, the PNP reported a total of 24 people arrested for violation of the gun ban, indicating there were 10 apprehended over the last 24 hours.

The PNP said there were 14 persons arrested during the first two days of gun ban.

Of the 24 arrested for violation of the gun ban, 21 were civilians, two security guards and a personnel of the Coast Guard.

Police also confiscated 15 firearms, seven deadly weapons, a firearm replica and 39 pieces of ammunition.

Mayor asked for understanding over the inconvenience caused by checkpoints.

“We are asking the public for understanding. There will be some inconvenience but this is for the welfare of the general public to ensure secure and fair elections,” Mayor added.

The Comelec also issued guidelines for the PNP and the AFP in implementing checkpoints.

Under the Comelec guidelines, police officers manning the checkpoint should be in complete service uniform and should conduct inspections in a courteous manner.

The police officers could only perform visual searches and ask routine questions.

The checkpoints should be well lighted and properly identified through a prescribed signboard containing the names of the designated election officer and the commanding officer of the checkpoint.

Any search at any Comelec checkpoint must be done in a manner that will impose minimum inconvenience to the person or persons searched without violating their constitutional rights.

The police and military personnel manning the checkpoints should coordinate their efforts with an election officer to establish at least one checkpoint in each city/municipality to enforce the firearms ban during the election period.