Gun Ban Starts on January 10, 2016

(PIA) — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC-7) said the implementation of gun ban for 2016 election will start on January 10 (Sunday).

COMELEC-Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Marco Lionel Castillano explained that under Philippine laws, “election period” means 120 days before the actual date of the elections and 30 days after it.

Since the election period will start on January 10 then it will end on June 9, continued Castillano, during the recent AGIO7 Forum at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Gorordo Ave., this city.

This 120-day election period contains the actual campaign period from Feb. 9 to May 8 for national candidates, and from March 26 to May 8 for local candidates, Castillano said.

In a COMELEC Resolution 1814, the gun ban applies to everyone except government security forces such as the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other law enforcement agencies.

Aside from the regular firearms and deadly weapons, also covered by the ban are air guns and replications, as well as bladed instruments, hand grenades, and other explosives except for fireworks.

Castillano also said, the poll body will allow candidates or individuals with security threats to have escorts during the election period upon application and assessment. The escorts can come from the PNP, AFP, or the National Bureau of Investigation and limited only to two (2) personnel.

The Comelec officials said any person that will be found guilty of violating the provisions of the gun ban will be imprisoned of not less than one year but not more than six years aside from disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right to suffrage. (mbcn/hfg/PIA7)