Comelec exempts over 1,100 individuals from election gun ban

Members of the Quezon City Police District hold a checkpoint along Agham Road in Quezon City as part of the enforcement of the COMELEC gun ban for the coming SK and Barangay elections. (File photo dated April 17, 2018 taken by EDWIN BACASMAS)
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has exempted more than 1,100 individuals and members of security agencies, among others, from the nationwide election gun ban.
The gun ban period started on Sunday (January 12).
Its imposition is meant to put in place peace and order, as the government believes this prohibition can lessen gun-related violence in the upcoming midterm polls.
READ: Gun ban starts January 12 as election period begins – PNP
“As of now, meron tayong 1,131 na nabigyan na ng certificate of exemption. Meron tayong individuals. Meron ding security agencies, and other exempted na nakalatag na sa ating resolution,” Commissioner Aimee Ferolino said in an ambush interview.
Article continues after this advertisement(We gave certificates of exemption to 1,131 people. These are individuals and members of security agencies, among others, as indicated in our resolution.)
Article continues after this advertisementFerolino said the application will remain open and will only close two weeks before the end of the election period.
According to Comelec chairman George Garcia, violators will face two offenses — one under Comelec and another under the Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
“Syempre, halimbawa wala kayong exemption mula sa Comelec, tapos ang dala dala nyo lang ay lisensya and permit to carry, kayo ay pupwedeng makasuhan ng Comelec ng election offense. One to six years imprisonment yan,” Garcia warned in the same interview.
(If you don’t have an exemption from the Comelec, and then, you only have a license and permit to carry, the Comelec can charge you with an election offense. Imprisonment for that is one to six years.)
“At pagkatapos, dahil suspended kasi yung lahat ng lisensya, violation din yan ng firearms law natin,” he noted.
(And because all of the licenses are suspended, that is also a violation of our firearms law.)
“Therefore, dalawang kaso ang pupwedeng kaharapin ng isang tao na mahuhulihan ng baril ng walang kaukulang exemption mula sa Comelec,” he made it clear.
(Therefore, a person who is caught with a gun without a corresponding exemption from Comelec can face two charges.)
In December last year, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil ordered an intensified campaign against private armed groups and loose firearms.
This directive was in line with initiatives to ensure the conduct of a peaceful and orderly election this year.
Based on the PNP’s January to November 2024 data, police officers arrested 8,628 people for violating the Firearm and Ammunition Regulation Act.