Baguio City, Philippines – With the nationwide implementation of the gun ban policy taking effect on Sunday, January 9, Baguio City Election Officer Atty. John Paul Martin asked the cooperation of the city’s residents not to bring firearms and other deadly weapons when they go out until June 8 for a safe 2022 national and local elections in the city.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 10728, Martin, as reported by Mt. Province Broadcasting Corporation, said that the bearing, carrying and transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons are prohibited during said period.
“No person shall employ, avail him/herself or engage the services of security personnel or bodyguards, whether or not such security personnel or bodyguards are regular members or officers of the PNP, AFP, other law enforcement agencies of the government or from a private security service provider, unless authorized by the Commission, through the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC),” the resolution read.
However, Martin said that exemption for the gun ban shall only be given to Law Enforcement Agencies and certain personalities who secure a certificate of authority (CA) issued by the CBFSC.
The resolution stated that aside from the members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies of the Government duly deputized by the Commission for election duty, high-risk public officials and personnel such as the vice president of the Philippines, Senate president and senators, speaker and members of the House of Representatives, justices of the courts, ombudsman and deputy ombudsmen may also be excused from the prohibition.
The ban also doesn’t apply to “cashiers and disbursing officers while in the performance of their duties or to persons who by nature of their official duties, profession, business or occupation habitually carry large sums of money or valuables.”
Meanwhile, PNP-Baguio said they have already installed at least 27 PNP-COMELEC checkpoint operations in different strategic areas in the city on the first day of the simultaneous implementation of gun ban policy.
They said that while they strictly implement the gun ban, they also made some guidelines for their personnel and motorists to follow to make sure no rights are being compromised during the process.
“Upon notice of PNP checkpoint, slow down as you approach, and scrutinize if the checkpoint signboard is official; no need to open any compartment or item for the checkpoint personnel; prepare driver’s license and car registration for presentation; no physical and body search; and report violations immediately to proper authorities,” it said on their Facebook page advisory.
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