The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded on Tuesday, Jan. 7, that its gun ban will take effect on Jan. 12, 2025, until June 11, 2025, as the election period begins.
"Kaya po doon sa ating mga kababayan po na bagama’t kayo ay lisensiyadong nagmamay-ari ng baril, bagama’t po kayo ay mayroong permit to carry firearms outside of residence, kung wala po kayong certificate of authority mula po sa Comelec, kayo po ay lumalabag po sa ating mga batas patungkol sa gun ban, Omnibus election code at pati na rin po sa Republic Act 7166 (So, to our fellow citizens, even though you are licensed firearm owners and have a permit to carry firearms outside of residence, if you do not have a certificate of authority from the Comelec, you are violating our laws regarding the gun ban, the Omnibus Election Code, and also Republic Act 7166)," Comelec spokesman Atty. John Rex Laudiangco said during the during the Bagong Pilipinas briefing.
"Kaya ito po ay isang election offense, may pagkakakulong po ng isa hanggang anim na taon, pagkakatanggal ng karapatang bumoto at higit sa lahat may perpetual disqualification to hold public office (Kaya ito po ay isang election offense, may pagkakakulong po ng isa hanggang anim na taon, pagkakatanggal ng karapatang bumoto at higit sa lahat may perpetual disqualification to hold public office)," he added.
He also asked for the public's cooperation, stating that a Comelec resolution has been published since last year on the poll body's website where there is a banner for the gun ban where all the information regarding the gun ban, its regulations, and who can apply for a certificate of authority is provided.
Laudiangco reminded that if one is qualified to apply, they should do this before the gun ban takes effect, stressing that carrying a firearm outside of their residence, even if they have a license, an LTOPF, or a permit to carry firearms outside of residence, but without a certificate of authority from Comelec, constitutes a violation of the law.
With this, he added that the nationwide checkpoint would also be in effect during the election period.
"Kaakibat ng election period, kaakibat po ng gun ban ay makikita na po ninyo ang implementation, malawakan, nationwide na tinatawag po natin na Comelec checkpoints (Along with the election period and the gun ban, you will see the implementation of widespread, nationwide Comelec checkpoints)," he said.
"Iyan po ang pagtutuunan ng pansin ng Comelec, ng ating deputized law enforcement at security agencies, kung saan po itsi-check po natin ang mga dumadaan, may sasakyan man o wala, ngunit sisiguraduhin po natin na ginagalang po natin ang ating mga karapatan ng ating mga kababayan sa batas o iyong plain view doctrine po ay iiral (That is what the Comelec, along with our deputized law enforcement and security agencies, will focus on. We will conduct checks on passersby, whether they are in vehicles or not, while ensuring that the rights of our citizens under the law are respected, and the plain view doctrine will be upheld)," he added.
Laudiangco stated that law enforcement agencies have the authority to conduct deeper investigations if they have reasonable grounds for suspicion but assured that all of these will adhere to the guidelines of the COMELEC gun ban as well as the protocols for checkpoints.
"Magiging mahigpit po tayo diyan dahil ang layunin po natin, bukod sa pagsasagawa ng maayos na halalan ay seguridad ng ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na iyong mga kandidato at botante. So, ito po ay asahan ninyo mula January 12 hanggang June 11 (We will be strict with this because our goal, aside from ensuring an orderly election, is the safety of our citizens, especially the candidates and voters. So, you can expect this from January 12 to June 11)," he added.