DILG to strictly enforce ban on guns, 'cop guards' in May 2018 polls

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Saturday said it will strictly implement the gun ban and the prohibition on the use of police bodyguards by candidates during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in May.

In a statement, DILG Officer-in-Charge Secretary Eduardo Año said that the department will work closely with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in enforcing the prohibition, and that it already advised the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prepare the recall letters to their officers.

"The PNP should now start preparing the recall letters and send them before the election period starts," he said.

Año also said the DILG will go on alert against vote-buying and vote-selling activities.

"The barangay elections have been postponed twice. Do not waste your right to vote for matino, mahusay, at maaasahang barangay and SK officials. Ang boto po natin ay walang katapat na presyo at nakataya sa ating boto ang pag-unlad ng ating mga barangay. We are the change," Año said.

The campaign period will run from April 14 to May 21, 2018.

Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10247, the DILG, the National Police Commission and other law enforcement agencies were tasked to assist the poll body in enforcing the said prohibitions, as well as other elections laws, rules and regulations.

"Our Local Government Operations Officers assigned to each LGU shall be coordinating closely with their local election officers and chiefs of police to ensure that the directives of the Comelec are complied with," DILG Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said.

"We expect our field personnel to also assist in informing all Barangays of the schedule of activities and prohibited acts during the election period," Malaya added.

Año, citing Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, has also advised the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to be on guard against the illegal release of prisoners before and after elections.

Other prohibited acts from May 4 up to the eve of the election day are the following: construction or maintenance of barangay-funded roads and bridges; and appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new position, promotion, giving of salary increases, remuneration or privileges. —Jamil Santos/LBG, GMA News