Comelec to start accepting gun ban exemption applications on June 5, 2023

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will start accepting applications for gun ban exemption on June 5, poll commissioner Aimee Ferolino announced Monday.

At a press conference, Ferolino, who chairs the Comelec Committee on Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns, said the poll body deemed it proper to start the gun ban application earlier to address the complaints for delay of some applications.

“On June 5, we will be starting to accept applications for certificate of authority for all categories. For the first time, we will be opening the acceptance of applications earlier. Nung nakaraang election, we started in December, but we found it right, we found it proper to open earlier to address the complaints… of some applicants,” she said.

According to the poll commissioner, this will ensure that only the right people will have the authority to carry firearms and it will ensure a peaceful conduct of elections.

Ferolino made an assurance to the applicants that the approval of applications will take only a week or a maximum of 15 days upon submission of requirements.

The election period and the prohibition on the bearing, carrying, or transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons and the employment or engagement of the services of security personnel or bodyguards are set from August 28, 2023, to November 29.2023.

On May 17, the Comelec en banc promulgated Resolution 10918 which provides the rules and regulations on the gun ban.

Apart from the details on the gun ban, Ferolino said they are already conducting assessments of the peace and order situation along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

“Kailangan masimulan nang maaga kasi pag election period tayo magsisimula, mahuhuli na tayo sa security preparations na kailangan nating gawin. We will be addressing security threats dito sa national level at sa local level,” Ferolino said.

The poll commissioner said Comelec checkpoints will also be implemented simultaneously with the gun ban.

“[Ito po ay] ating i-install kada munisipyo o city na kung saan meron tayong municipal, city joint security command centers. So ‘yun po ang ating arm sa field,” she said. —NB, GMA Integrated News