PNP: Arrested election gun ban violators now at 836

The number of people accosted for violating the election gun ban rose to 836, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo added that over 90% of those accosted were civilians.

“May ilan ilan tayong nasita na PNP personnel, ganun din sa AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), dahil nung sila ay dumaan sa mga checkpoints natin ay wala silang bitbit na mga gun exemption kaya sila ay nasita,” Fajardo explained.

(We caught several PNP and AFP personnel who tried to pass through our checkpoints without gun ban exemptions.)

The PNP spokesperson added that firearms confiscated from law enforcers were being held temporarily until proof of exemption was presented.

Meanwhile, several of the accosted civilians were authorized to bring firearms due to the nature of their jobs. However, their exemptions were still in the middle of being processed.

“Kahit on process ang kanilang mga papel ay hindi pa rin ‘yun sapat para ay magdala. Hintayin nila ‘yung exemptions nila at para pagdating sa mga checkpoints ay maipakita nila ‘yung karampatang papeles na nagbibigay sa kanila ng authority para magdala ng baril,” Fajardo stressed.

(Even if their papers are still being processed, that’s not an excuse to carry firearms outside of their homes. They have to wait for their exemptions so when they arrive at checkpoints, they can present documents that grant them the authority to carry firearms.)

When the election period started on January 9 and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban was imposed, all kinds of firearms, even those with licenses and with a permit to carry, were no longer allowed to be brought outside of the owner’s residence.

Campaign period

Fajardo said that the PNP would increase the number of deployed personnel as the campaign period for the May 9 national and local elections begin.

“Doble ‘yung magiging paglalatag natin ng ating personnel. Kaya even ‘yung mga administrative personnel natin sa national, regional headquarters ay ibababa po sa mga stations para dagdag pwersa sa gagawing pagbabantay lalong lalo na sa pagdadausan ng campaign sorties,” she added.

(We will deploy twice as many of our personnel. Even our administrative personnel at the national, regional headquarters will be deployed in stations to increase the monitoring force, especially during campaign sorties.)

Based on Comelec’s calendar of activities for Eleksyon 2022, the campaign period for president, vice president, senator, and party lists would start on February 8. — DVM, GMA News