Comelec to enforce gun ban for BARMM polls starting Aug. 14
Election gun ban. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will implement a gun ban for the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary elections from August 14 to October 28, 2025, covering the entire election period.
The BARMM Parliamentary elections will be held on October 13, 2025, after being postponed from May 12.
READ: Comelec: Only 73 parliament seats to be contested in BARMM polls
The Comelec said that during the gun ban, the following activities are prohibited without a Comelec exemption:
- Bearing or carrying firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, even if the owner is licensed or authorized to possess them
- Availing of or engaging the services of security personnel or bodyguards
- Transporting or delivering firearms, ammunition and components, and other explosives
The poll body also said that Permits to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence, Letter Orders, and Mission Orders will be suspended and rendered ineffective during the gun ban period, unless the Gun Ban and Security Concerns Committee (GBSCC) issues a Certificate of Authority.
The Comelec added that the gun ban will also cover members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Moro National Liberation Front, and other armed groups, including the decommissioning of firearms during the election period, unless authorized by the GBSCC.
MS Forms link for gun ban exemption
READ: Comelec affirms Oct. 13, 2025 date for BARMM polls
Violators of the gun ban may face the following penalties:
- Imprisonment of one to six years, without probation
- Disqualification from holding public office and loss of the right to vote
- Deportation for foreigners, after serving the prison term
The application period for gun ban exemptions is July 14 to October 14, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays. /jpv
