The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Monday, May 22 that it will begin accepting applications on June 5 for the gun ban exemption, three months before the election period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in October.
"For the first time, we will be opening the acceptance of applications earlier. Nung nakaraang election, we started December. But we found it proper to open earlier to address the clamor, the complaints for delays of some applicants," Comelec - Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC) Chairperson Commissioner Aimee Ferolino said in a press conference.
The CBFSC refers to the Committee in the Commission, which shall be responsible for the implementation of the ban on the bearing, carrying, or transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons, and the employment, availment or engagement of security personnel, among others, and the rules and regulations on the application for exemption.
According to Ferolino, this move to open the applications earlier will ensure that only the right people will have the authority to carry firearms. She added that delaying this will be a disservice to those who would need the exemption to protect themselves or the property they were charged to keep safe as this may affect the discharge of their functions.
"So we saw it fit that we will open earlier so that we can be assured of a peaceful elections," she said.
Meanwhile, Ferolino also mentioned that they do not expect a rise in applications since there is no presence of a widespread or massive threat in the country that would trigger an influx in applications.
For the October 2023 BSKE, the gun ban will be in effect during the election period which according to Comelec Resolution No. 10905, will be from Aug. 28 to Nov. 29, 2023.
Comelec has already released Resolution No. 10918 enumerating the rules and regulations on the ban, bearing, carrying, and transportation of firearms. This also covers the prohibition against availment or engagement of the services of security personnel or bodyguards.
Under the general provisions, it is stated that "No person shall bear, carry or transport firearms or deadly weapons outside his/ her residence or place of business, and in all public places, including any building, street, park, and in private vehicles or public conveyances, even if he/she is licensed or authorized to possess or to carry the same, unless authorized by the Commission, through the CBFSC, in accordance with the provisions of this Resolution."
It is also stated that "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 CBFSC or the Regional Joint Security Control Centers (RJSCC) in case of a Temporary Authority-Security Detail, in accordance with the provisions of this Resolution."
Full exemption according to the resolution, will be granted to the President of the Philippines, Vice President of the Philippines, Senators, House of Representatives Members, judges and justices, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, and Major Service Commanders, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief and senior officers, Cabinet Secretaries and Undersecretaries, Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsmen, state prosecutors, and Comelec officials.