MANILA, Philippines — A gun ban was implemented in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao beginning yesterday, signaling the start of the BARMM parliamentary election period, the Commission on Elections said.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said checkpoints would be set up in strategic areas of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to enforce the ban and other election rules.
President Marcos allowed the deputation of law enforcement agencies and other government instrumentalities to ensure an honest and peaceful conduct of the first parliamentary election on Sept. 14.
Marcos concurred with the Comelec’s deputation of security forces for the BARMM polls through Memorandum Order 48 dated July 1.
Article IX-C of the 1987 Constitution allows the Comelec to deputize, with the concurrence of the President, law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including the military, for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections.
Under election rules, carrying of firearms or deadly weapons without written authorization from Comelec, use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates, and alteration of precinct territories or establishment of new precincts are prohibited acts.
The transfer or detail of civil service officers and employees, organization or maintenance of armed groups and suspension of elective local officials without Comelec approval are also prohibited.
Over 3,316 police officers are securing the BARMM during the election period, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Col. Allen Rae Co during a send-off ceremony in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte yesterday.
“The 3,316 is separate from our PNP personnel who are doing regular police duties,” Co said.
He added that the PNP intelligence-gathering operations to monitor possible threats from armed groups are being intensified.
Co reminded people that only police officers, personnel from uniformed services and other persons authorized by the Comelec are allowed to carry firearms during the ban. — Alexis Romero, Emmanuel Tupas