Friday, December 18, 2009

Philippine National Police to Ban Guns and Firearms During 2010 Election Period (January to June)

Panel created to implement gun ban
By E.T. SUAREZ
Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation
December 18, 2009, 3:47pm

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) created Friday a Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP) to carry out the government policy to prohibit the bearing, carrying and transporting of firearms or deadly weapons to ensure the holding of a clean, honest, orderly and peaceful elections and directed the Philippine National Police to suspend the issuance of firearms licenses during the election period for the May 10, 2010 polls which is from Jan. 10 to June 9, 2010 (emphasis added).

The Comelec en banc led by Chairman Jose A.R. Melo designated Commissioner Lucenito N. Tagle, a former Regional Trial Court Judge, a retired justice of the Court of Appeals and member of the Philippine Judicial Academy, as CBFSP chairman with one star rank officer or equivalent, from the AFP and PNP, as members. It is assisted by a secretariat composed of representatives from the Comelec, AFP and PNP.

Comelec warned that firearms licenses issued in violation of Section 1 of its en banc Resolution 8714 are null and void, without prejudice to the filing of appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges against the holder or those responsible for the issuance of the license.

PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other law enforcement agencies were directed by the Comelec to submit not later than Dec. 29, 2009 the list of the names of the personnel of the agency, together with a description of their firearms, who are authorized to bear, carry or transport firearms under en banc Resolution No. 8714.

“The list shall bear a certification that the persons named therein are in the regular plantilla of the agency performing law enforcement functions and are receiving regular compensation for the services rendered in the said agency and that the firearms described are duly registered firearms,” the Comelec said.

PNP, AFP and other law enforcement personnel mentioned in the certified list shall be considered authorized to bear, carry or transport firearms only upon its receipt by the CBFSP, it was pointed out.

The CBFSP will be responsible for the implementation of the ban on the bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms, and the employment, availment or engagement of security personnel. It is required to submit to the commission a monthly report on the implementation on the ban on firearms and security personnel.

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