Comelec issues recalibrated guidelines for gun ban exemptions

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday recalibrated the guidelines for gun ban exemptions ahead of Eleksyon 2022.

In Comelec’s en banc meeting, chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said that the amendments to Resolution No. 10728 with the aim of producing "a more efficient system of issuing certificates of authority" include the “decentralization of the granting of exemption to the Regional Directors and Election Officers and the grant of automatic exemption to justices, judges, and prosecutors, including the Ombudsman.”

Resolution No. 10728 states the prohibition on unauthorized firearms and bodyguards ahead of the election period.

“The Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC) was given one week from today (1) to finetune and finalize the proposed amendments; (2) to ensure that the regional directors and election officers possess the required capacity to undertake the task; and (3) to consult with Comelec partners and study the safeguards needed for such amendments,” Pangarungan said in a statement.

“Nevertheless, in the interim, the Commission en banc has restated its resolution to expedite the processing of all the pending applications before the CBFSC,” he added.

The Comelec resolution bans bearing, carrying or transporting firearms or deadly weapons outside residence or place of business and in all public places from January 9 to June 8, 2022 or for a total of 150 calendar days.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said all political aspirants would be informed through a letter that their security detail will be recalled, while all recalled police security detail will undergo the VIP Security and Protection Refresher Course.

Exempted from the recall of security detail are government officials including the President, the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Secretary of National Defense, the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, the Chairman and Commissioners of Comelec, the AFP Chief of Staff, AFP Major Service Commanders, the Chief of the PNP, and senior officers of the PNP. — BM, GMA News