ILOILO City – Across Western Visayas, the first day of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) yesterday for the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) was generally peaceful.
No crimes were reported and no one was arrested for violating the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) gun ban, according to Police Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, director of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
“We have zero incident and walang nahuli for gun ban violation. We are calling gun holders not to carry their firearms kung walang permit from the Comelec,” Villaflor said.
He added the diligent efforts of police personnel in conducting checkpoints ensured the safety and security of aspirants who filed their COCs.
The filing of COC is until Sept. 2.
The PRO-6 director said the police, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and other concerned agencies are working together with the Comelec to maintain peace and order during the election period.
Yesterday, Comelec-6 director Dennis Ausan was accompanied by Villaflor and officers of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and PCG in inspecting four areas in Iloilo to ensure the readiness and alertness in holding checkpoints.
These were barangays Tagbak and Ungka in Jaro, Iloilo City; Barangay Mali-ao, Pavia; and Leganes town.
A total of 294 checkpoints in the region were conducted yesterday alone by 147 police stations across the region, Villaflor added.
Meanwhile, the Comelec gun ban will last until Nov. 29, coinciding with the election period for the barangay and SK elections.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 10918, the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns, headed by Commissioner Aimee Ferolino as chairperson, is assigned to issue Certificates of Authority (CA) to those exempted from the gun ban.
Unless authorized by the poll body through a CA, the following acts are prohibited during the election period:
1.) to bear, carry, or transport firearms and other deadly weapons outside residence or place of business, and in all public places;
2.) to employ, avail, or engage the services of security personnel and bodyguards; and
3.) to transport or deliver firearms and explosives, including its parts, ammunition, and/ or components.
According to the Comelec, these prohibitions are considered election offenses punishable with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years without probation, permanent disqualification to hold public office, and deprivation of the right of suffrage./PN
