MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) will impose a nationwide gun ban beginning January 12, the start of the election period for this year’s midterm polls.
Law enforcers will conduct checkpoint operations in strategic locations as part of efforts to secure the polls, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said during a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday.
Fajardo said as a general rule, only bona fide police, military, and members of government law enforcement agencies in complete uniform and while on official duty are allowed to bear firearms for the entire duration of the election period.
Exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-imposed firearms prohibition may be secured from the Committee on Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns.
“For those not included in the executive list of exemptions, if they wish to bring firearms outside of their respective residences and places of business, they have to apply for a certificate of authority from Comelec so that they can be exempted,” she said.
“Otherwise, if they do not have a certificate of authority to be issued by committee on the ban of firearms and security concerns, then they have to follow the gun ban on January 12.”
Fajardo said that all police units continue to intensify the crackdown on private armed groups (PAGs) and loose firearms ahead of midterm elections.
The PNP is monitoring five groups.
“We continue to monitor these PAGs and the order of our chief PNP (Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil) is to keep a close watch on these PAGs to make sure that these are not used by any politician or group to influence the elections,” Fajardo said.
From January to November 2024, the PNP reported arresting 8,628 for violating Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
During this period, 25,240 firearms were either confiscated, recovered or surrendered, while 9,932 firearms were turned over for safekeeping.
The highest number of arrests for firearms law violations was recorded by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) with 2,033 arrests, followed by Police Regional Office (PRO) – Central Luzon with 979 and 7 (Central Visayas) with 906.
On confiscated or surrendered firearms, PRO-7 led with 3,951 cases, followed by PRO-6 (Western Visayas) with 3,023 and NCRPO with 2,175.
Meanwhile, PRO 4-A (Calabarzon) recorded the highest number of firearms turned over for safekeeping at 2,797.
The poll body also reminded the public to be aware of gun ban checkpoints that would be set up in strategic areas.
“Check points will be established not only against firearms and deadly weapons. We would also like to address the situation in some areas,” Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia said in a press conference at the kickoff ceremony for the printing of the official ballots for the 2025 polls at the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City.
“We can also assess peace and order situation in the area, if we can put the place under Comelec control,” the poll body chief added.
At the same time, Garcia noted that they will have a meeting with authorities particularly the PNP on January 9, to discuss the list of areas of concern among others in connection with the forthcoming polls.
He said they have received numerous requests for gun ban exemptions.
“Aside from many requests for exemption. We also have automatic exemptions such as prosecutors, judges, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, justices of the Supreme Court, legislators… the Comelec chief added. (With Ferdinand Patitnio/PNA)