PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos yesterday said they will strictly assess all gun ban exemption applications as part of their effort to ensure a peaceful holding of the May 2022 national and local elections.

The top cop explained that the applications for gun ban exemption will undergo stringent screening that may take several days to process according to the procedures of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“We would like to make it clear that following the submission of application, it will undergo a process including threat assessment which shall be determined together with the members of the Joint Security and Coordinating Council (JCSS),” Carlos said.

Comelec has already released the flow of process during the gun ban exemption application:

1. It will start by accomplishing the digitized application thru MS forms and the hard copies of the same shall be sent to the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP) with a self-addressed prepaid return envelope;

2. MS Forms generate notification email to the applicant and CBFSP;

3. CBFSC secretariat shall access the file containing the list of submitted applications received and download the same including the attachments;

4. CBFSC conducts a pre-evaluation of the documents;

5. If documents are complete, the secretariat assigns an application number and computes for the Administrative Processing Fee, if applicable. If it lacks document/s, the applicant will be asked to remedy defects or re-submit the application;

6. If there is no documentary concern, the secretariat shall send an email to the applicant with order of payment and instructions on how to pay the fee. The application shall be forwarded to the AFP, PNP and CBFSC for the start of the evaluation process;

7. CBFSP Secretariat transmits thru email the application together with all the documentary requirements to the respective evaluating units of the AFP, PNP and CBFSC. The application will be evaluated simultaneously within three working days from receipt;

8. CBFSC consolidating team shall collate the results of the evaluation;

9. CBFSC overall supervisor submits recommendation to the CBFSC; and

10. If approved, CBFSC secretariat will prepare the Certificate of Authority to be signed by the CFBSC chairperson and the PNP, AFP counterparts. If denied, the applicant will be given a Notice of Denial.

Carlos said that the PNP unit that will assist in the threat assessment will base the merits of the application if there is clear and present danger that will put the life of the applicant in high risk.

The Comelec on Wednesday opened the applications for gun ban and security personnel exemptions by all individuals in line with the scheduled gun ban exemptions. The applications for the issuance of the Certification of Authority will be from December 1 until May 25, 2022.

The filing of application may be done online through the Comelec official website www.comelec.gov.ph.

The requirements for the application are the following: CBFSC Form No. 2022-06 downloadable at Comelec website; 2×2 photograph; threat assessment; and CBFSC Form No. 2022A-06DA (certified by the concerned government agency).

Under Comelec Resolution 10728, the poll body has set regulations on the ban on the Bearing, Carrying or Transporting of Firearms or Other Deadly Weapons; and Employment, Availment or Engagement of the Services of Security Personnel or Bodyguards from January 9 to June 8, 2022.

All the political aspirants will be informed through a letter that their security detail will be recalled.

Carlos has ordered that all recalled police security undergo a VIP Security and Protection Refresher Course.

Exempted from the recall of security detail are the following government officials: President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Secretary of National Defense, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, Chairman and Commissioners of Comelec, Chief of Staff and Major Service Commanders of the Armed Forces and the PNP chief and senior PNP officers.