Gun ban to start on September 23 — Comelec

The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections might be moved to next year, but a ban on bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons will still be enforced from September 23 to October 30.

"No person shall bear, carry or transport firearms or deadly weapons outside his 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 is licensed or authorized to possess or carry the same, unless authorized by the Commission," the Commission on Elections' Resolution No. 10197 reads.

The #GunBan rules for #BSKE2017 were promulgated today. pic.twitter.com/fe5wd9oDAu

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) September 14, 2017

In a press release, Comelec also said that a prohibition on the employment, availment or engagement of the services of security personnel or bodyguards will also be in effect during the said period.

This is "whether or not such security personnel or bodyguards are regular members or officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), other law enforcement agency of the government or from a private security service provider, unless authorized by the Commission," the poll body said.

The Comelec Committee on the Ban of Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP) will accept applications for the "issuance of authority to bear, carry or transport firearms or deadly weapons" starting September 21, according to Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez.

President Rodrigo Duterte had been pushing for the postponement of the barangay elections, saying that 40 percent of officials in the barangay level have drug links.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista had said that if the barangay and SK elections are postponed, the poll body would prefer that they be moved to May 2018 or May 2020.

On September 7, the House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill 6308, which calls for the postponement of the synchronized barangay and SK elections from Oct. 23, 2017 to the second Monday of May 2018.

Under the bill, incumbent barangay officials will be on hold-over positions until they are replaced by their successors after the elections.

A counterpart bill filed by Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III has yet to be approved by the upper chamber.

Sotto's bill proposes the postponement of the elections to October 2018.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III had said the upper chamber will wait for the House to act on the proposed postponement of the barangay elections before deciding on Sotto's bill. — BM, GMA News