BY: VANESSA BUGTONG
Clean and peaceful elections, that’s the goal of COMELEC and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the upcoming 2025 midterm local and national elections.
One measure to achieve this is the enforcement of the election gun ban.
However, less than a month after its implementation, the Police Regional Office Cordillera has already recorded several violations.
These cases were recorded from January 12 to January 25.
This does not include three men and one woman caught with firearms along Marcos Highway in Barangay Sto. Tomas Proper, Baguio City, on January 28.
Because of this, the PNP will intensify patrols and COMELEC checkpoints, especially in the provinces of Abra and Kalinga.
Under COMELEC Resolution No. 11067, carrying firearms or deadly weapons is prohibited unless authorized by COMELEC.
This does not apply to members of the PNP, AFP, PDEA, and other uniformed personnel.
In the latest Regional Joint Security Control Center meeting in December 2024, three areas in Cordillera were classified as “orange” category, including Bucay, Abra.
Seven areas are in the “yellow” category, and 67 towns and cities fall under the “green” category.
The election gun ban will remain in effect until June 11.
