Election period starts; gun ban takes effect

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) set up checkpoints nationwide for the implementation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban that started Sunday, October 1. The Comelec continued to impose the gun ban because President Rodrigo Duterte has not signed a law postponing the October polls.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Guillermo Eleazar said they will conduct visual inspection for the barring of possible transport of illegal contrabands. Eleazar said during the gun ban, the permit to carry firearms of a private individual is temporarily cancelled while law enforcers are only allowed to carry their firearms while on duty. Eleazar reminded the motorists that authorities are only allowed to implement plain view doctrine in which they are not allowed to touch anything inside the car and motorists are also not suppose to alight from their vehicles. Eleazar said advised the motorists to open their windows and the lights inside the vehicle while passing through a checkpoint. The poll body said the gun ban will last until October 30.

The Comelec also issued a statement on Friday, September 29, informing interested candidates that they may file their certificates of candidacy between October 5 and October 11, while the campaign period will run from October 12 to October 21. The poll body reminded the public of other prohibitions during the election period: - alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct - use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates, unless authorized by the Commission - coercing, threatening, intimidating or terrorizing any election official or employee in the performance of his election functions or duties - the transfer or detail of officers and employees in the civil service including public school teachers - organizing or maintaining reaction forces, strike forces or similar forces and suspension of any elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay officers. Jimenez said violations of any of the above-mentioned prohibitions are punishable by one to six years of imprisonment, disqualification to hold public office, and deprivation of the right to suffrage. Comelec Resolution No. 10198 promulgated on September 14, 2017 requires a city or municipality to have at least one Comelec checkpoint but the police and military can also implement additional checkpoints in coordiantion with election officers who have jurisdiction over a city or municipality.