PNP logs 5 possible poll-related incidents; gun ban violators exceed 300
Police officers stationed at a Commission on Elections checkpoint on Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila monitor passing vehicles on Sunday. At least 14 checkpoints will be set up around Manila to maintain public safety and order during the election period, which began on Jan. 12. (INQUIRER / RICHARD A. REYES)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded five suspected election-related incidents and 334 gun ban violations in its monitoring for the 2025 midterm elections.
Data from the PNP released on Friday afternoon showed three possible election-related incidents in Western Visayas (Region 6) and one each in Cagayan Valley (Region 2) and Socssksargen (Region 12) as of Jan. 23, 2025.
The gun ban violators, the PNP reported, include 316 civilians, 10 security guards, three Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel, two personnel of other law enforcement agencies, two foreign nationals, and one appointed government official.
The total number of firearms seized rose to 337—147 revolvers, 94 pistols, seven explosives, six shotguns, one rifle, one M15 A2 rifle, and 81 other types of firearms.
The guns were confiscated in 195 police operations, 76 buy-bust operations, 56 checkpoint operations, and 10 other lawful arrests, the PNP data indicated.
The gun ban began on Jan. 12, 2025 suspending all permits to carry firearms outside residence (PTCFOR) until the end of the election period on June 11, 2025.
The police force previously stressed that only those granted a certificate of authority by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) may carry a firearm outside their residences or places of business during the gun ban period.
Security guards reminded anew vs carrying firearms off duty
The PNP, through its Civil Security Group (CSG) cautioned security guards anew against carrying their firearms beyond their duty hours, which is also a violation of the gun ban.
PNP Public Information Office chief Col. Randulf Tuaño previously warned security guards that their licenses could be revoked if they violate the gun ban.
The CSG was working with the Philippine Association of Detective and Protective Agency Operators (PADPAO) to relay information to security guards about the gun ban, its spokesperson Lt. Col. Eudisan Gultiano told reporters in Camp Crame on Friday.
Gultiano added that the CSG was also issuing memorandum advisories for reminders.
“Bilang kami ay regulatory office, hindi lang yung guwardiya yung pinapatawag natin, pinapatawag din natin ang mga security agency to determine kung mayroon bang pagkukulang sa kanilang pagbibigay ng impormasyon,” Gultiano explained.
(As a regulatory office, we will not only summon the guards, we will also summon the security agency to determine whether there was a failure to disseminate information.)
“Yung principle ng command responsibility, mag-aapply din yun,” she added.
(The principle of command responsibility also applies.)
