An international peace-building organization has criticized the "selective" implementation of gun ban as it disclosed that the 17 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who were arrested in Maguindanao del Sur last month for carrying high-powered firearms were released from detention.
In a statement, the Climate Conflict Action (CCA) said the 17 MILF rebels were released within 24 hours after they were apprehended in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao del Sur for gun ban violation.
The group alleged that the release was facilitated by the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and there were no words given if the apprehended MLFR men were charged for violating the nationwide gun ban.
“This troubling decision exposes a disturbing lack of impartiality in the enforcement of the Comelec (Commission on Elections) gun ban and calls into question its purpose and effectiveness,” the CCA statement read.
“The favored treatment given to the MILF underscores this deliberate and blatant disregard for legal processes and the rule of law. What makes this situation even more alarming is that authorities so easily turned a blind eye to a serious violation,” it added.
The CCA has been calling for the impartial implementation of gun ban especially in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as it warned that the situation in the ground is already pointing to escalation of violence for the May 12 midterm elections.
In a recent press briefing, CCA executive director Francisco "Pancho" Lara, Jr. emphasized that the laws that punishes gun ban violators in Luzon and the Visayas must also be applied for the gun ban violators in BARMM, regardless of their affiliation.
Lara said the impartial implementation of the gun ban is one of the important measures that must be implemented if the Comelec and the national government want to have peaceful and honest elections in BARMM.
So far, several gun attacks were already recorded in the past few days in Mindanao and for the CCA, this is consistent with the increased gun-related violence it observed since 2021.
“Climate Conflict Action reiterates that no group should have the power to obstruct security forces in implementing the COMELEC gun ban and Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition. The government must ensure that any violations—whether committed by political figures or armed groups—are met with immediate accountability, including arrests and disarming if necessary,” the CCA statement read.
“This is not merely about enforcing a law; it is about restoring public trust and safeguarding lives. If impunity persists, the cycle of violence will only deepen, undermining our democratic process and the prospects for lasting peace. There must be unwavering resolve to enforce the gun ban impartially and rigorously, ensuring that no mockery of the law is permitted,” it added.