AS deputized agencies of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have started enforcing a nationwide gun ban to ensure a safe midterm elections on May 12.

The prohibition on the unauthorized carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons will be from January 12 to June 11, 2025.

“We are reminding the public that the nationwide gun ban is already in effect and we are calling for everybody’s patience as we put on checkpoints in strategic parts of the country,” said PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil.

The PNP will be getting full support from the AFP headed by Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. in enforcing the ban. The Philippine Coast Guard was also deputized by the Comelec to implement the ban in all Philippine ports.

Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia assured that the ‘plain view doctrine’ will be fully observed as they start enforcing the nationwide gun ban with the observance of human rights an utmost priority of checkpoint personnel.

The official said they received no complaints against policemen manning checkpoints during the October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

All checkpoint personnel will be under the supervision of the Comelec however, although the augmentation of PNP and AFP troops will depend on the recommendation of concerned police and military officials.

During the 5-month period, only members of the PNP, the AFP, and other law enforcement agencies conducting an actual performance of duties in their agency-prescribed uniform will be exempted from the gun ban.

Agents of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) guarding the First Family are automatically exempted from the ban.

Gen. Marbil has ordered the temporary suspension of all Permit-to-Carry-Firearms-Outside-of-Residence (PTCFOR) issued during the period, thus licensed gun-holders with PTCFORs have to first secure a Comelec (Commission on Elections) gun ban exemption permit for them to be able to bring their guns outside their residence.

The PNP said they have made all the necessary preparations as they assume their election duties as a “deputized agency of the Comelec” during the mid-term polls.

Gen. Marbil said that all operational planning and preparatory activities of the PNP are guided by Comelec Resolution No. 11067 issued in September 2024 to enforce the gun ban as stipulated under the Omnibus Election Code and Republic Act No. 7166.

The Comelec gun ban committee can issue Certificates of Authority to applicants who want to bear or transport firearms during the election period, or employ a security detail.

They include members of the PNP, the AFP and other government departments that perform law enforcement, security functions, and/or election duties; Security personnel of the foreign diplomatic corps, missions, and establishments under international law;

Security agencies; cashiers and disbursing officers of privately-owned corporations or companies; high-risk individuals; security detail for public officials and private individuals; those involved in the transport or delivery of firearms, ammunition, and explosives, and/or their components; and those involved in the entertainment industry, who need firearms in their performances.

The CAs, however, may be revoked on the basis of misrepresentation or false statement in the application, or other grounds deemed appropriate by the CBFSC.

The applications for the issuance of CA started last November 18 and will end on May 28.

Automatically exempted from the ban and no longer need to apply for a Comelec permit are the President, Vice-President, Senate Presidents and Senators, House Speaker and members of the House of Representatives, Supreme Court Chief Justice and Associate Justices,

Cabinet Secretaries, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and other officials in the executive branch with equivalent rank, Justices of the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan, and the Court of Tax Appeals, Judges of Trial Courts and Shari’ah Courts,

Chairperson and members of the Judicial and Bar Council, Chairperson, commissioners, executive director, deputy executive directors, directors and lawyers employed by and holding office in the main office of the Comelec, chiefs-of-staff of the offices of the chairman and commissioners, regional election directors, assistant regional election directors, provincial election supervisors, regional election attorneys, election officers, organic security officers,

Chairpersons and commissioners of the Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit, and the Commission on Human Rights, AFP chief of staff and senior officers, PNP chief and senior officers, Philippine Coast Guard commandant and senior officers, Bureau of Fire Protection chief director and senior officers, Ombudsman, deputy ombudsman and prosecutors of the Ombudsman,

Sergeant-at-arms and assistant sergeant-at-arms of the Senate and House of Representatives, Sheriffs in all courts and quasi-judicial bodies, Solicitor general, assistant solicitor generals, state solicitors, and associate solicitors of the Office of the Solicitor General, Prosecutor general, chief state prosecutor, state prosecutors and prosecutors of the Department of Justice,

Chief public attorney, deputy public attorney, regional public attorneys, assistant regional public attorneys, provincial public attorneys, city public attorneys, municipal public attorneys, Commissioner and deputy commissioners of the Bureau of Immigration,

Director general, deputy director generals, assistant director generals, and directors of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Director of the National Bureau of Investigation and Provincial, city, and municipal treasurers.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon