The Negros Occidental police will enforce the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban starting Sunday, January 9, at the start of the election period.
The suspension to carry firearms is until June 8.
In Comelec Resolution No. 10728, it said the bearing, carrying and transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons are prohibited during the period.
“No person shall employ, avail him/herself or engage the services of security personnel or bodyguards, whether or not such security personnel or bodyguards are regular members or officers of the PNP, AFP, other law enforcement agencies of the government or from a private security service provider, unless authorized by the Commission, through the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC),” the resolution added.
Lt. Abegael Donasco, spokesperson of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said the police will also put up checkpoints to ensure the safety of the public and to prevent armed groups from being used by officials and candidates running for office in the May 9 polls.
She said that a plain view search will be implemented in checkpoints around the province.
Only uniformed personnel such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police are exempted from the Comelec gun ban.*