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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Comelec amends gun ban rule, exempts senior gov't officials, election officers

Comelec amends gun ban rule, exempts senior gov't officials, election officers

Published Apr 11, 2022 03:02 pm

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has granted the exemption of senior government officials, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) organic agents, and election officers from the election gun ban in effect.

Members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) conduct random inspections on motorist passing through a Comelec checkpoint along University Ave. in Quezon City on Jan 10, 2022. The Philippine National Police (PNP) simultaneously launched Comelec checkpoints at city and provincial boundaries last Sunday, Jan. 9, 2021 for the strict implementation of the nationwide gun ban until June 8, 2022 as the country marked the beginning of the election period. (Noel B. Pabalate / MANILA BULLETIN)

In a press briefing on Monday, April 11, Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan announced that the en banc has amended Resolution No. 10728 to recalibrate the rules and regulations on the election gun ban.

The gun ban spans the whole election period which according to resolution no. 10728, will be from January 9, 2022 to June 8, 2022.

He said that the amendment aims to expedite and simplify the grant of exemptions to the ban on the bearing, carrying and transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons, as well as ammunition and explosives and/or their components, to deserving applicant public officials.

He stressed that the said exemptions were previously enjoyed by qualified senior government officials in previous elections.

“These officials need to feel secured in performing their duties, free from fear and pressure from others,” he said.

With these approved amendments, Pangarungan said that the Comelec aims to provide a faster and simpler process of availing exemptions to the gun ban without sacrificing the safeguards and security measures in place.

The COMELEC chief said that he does not want any senior government official to get injured or lose his life from an armed assailant simply because he cannot defend himself with his own firearm due to the gun ban.

Granted exemptions from the gun ban are the following:

  • The Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines, and two (2) security detail;
  • The Senate President and the Senators of the Republic of the Philippines, and two (2) security detail;
  • The Speakers and Members of the House of Representatives, and TWO (2) security detail;
  • The Chief Justice and the Justices of the Supreme Court, and two (2) security details for each;
  • The Justices of the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan, and the Court of Tax Appeals;
  • The Judges of the Regional Trial Courts and Municipal/ Metropolitan/ Circuit Trial Courts;
  • Cabinet Secretaries, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, with two (2) and one (1) security detail, respectively;
  • Ombudsman and two (2) security detail, Deputy Ombudsmen, and Investigators and Prosecutors of the Ombudsman;
  • Prosecutor General, Chief State Prosecutor, State Prosecutors, and Prosecutors mentioned under R.A. No. 10071 of the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice;
  • Officials, including organic agents, of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); and
  • Election Officers (EO), Provincial Election Supervisors (PES), and Regional Election Directors (RED) provided that they may be entitled to not more than two (2) security detail as approved by the REDs.

Provided that the above-named persons possess the valid License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF), Certificate of Firearms Registration (CFR), valid Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR).

Provided further, that in no instance shall they carry two firearms.

And provided furthermore, that these public officials shall submit to the CBFSC no later than April 19, 2022 the list of their firearms and qualified security detail.

Related Tags

2022 elections 2022 presidential elections 2022 polls Comelec 2022 national and local polls Commission on Elections (Comelec) 2022 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS election gun ban Comelec gun ban
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