The 150-day election period for the May 12 polls officially started on Sunday, with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) assuming full control over all election-related matters.
Among the implemented measures is a gun ban, requiring individuals to obtain written Comelec authorization to carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), in coordination with the Comelec, has set up checkpoints nationwide. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia emphasized that all firearm licenses and permits are suspended during this period. “The gun ban is a vital component of our efforts to maintain peace and order during the election period. We urge everyone to comply and to report any violations,” he said.
Government officials can request security detail from the PNP and other agencies, but only a maximum of two bodyguards will be permitted, with their firearms also requiring Comelec-issued permits.
Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, head of the Comelec Steering Committee, disclosed that 1,131 gun ban exemptions had been issued as of January 12.
Prohibitions and Campaign Schedule
Election period restrictions include:
- Relocation or establishment of new polling precincts.
- Transfer of civil service officers and employees without Comelec approval.
- Suspension of elective local officials without Comelec authorization.
The campaign period for senators begins on February 11, while local and House of Representatives candidates can start on March 28. Campaigning is prohibited on Maundy Thursday (April 17) and Good Friday (April 18).
Overseas Filipino voters will cast their votes either online or at designated Philippine embassies and consulates from April 30 to May 12. Local absentee voters will also vote within the same period.
A liquor ban will be in effect from May 11 to May 12, with campaigning prohibited on election day and its eve.
Positions at Stake
The May 12 elections will fill 18,271 positions, including 12 senators, 254 House representatives, 63 party-list seats, and numerous local government posts. Additionally, 72 slots in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will also be contested.
Enforcing the Gun Ban
PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil reported that four individuals were arrested in BARMM, Central Mindanao, Western Visayas, and Central Luzon for violating the gun ban.
Marbil reassured the public that checkpoints will follow established protocols, ensuring respect for individual rights and privacy. Officers are limited to visual inspections and cannot demand passengers exit vehicles, open trunks, or perform body searches.
The Comelec and PNP continue to stress the importance of adhering to these measures to ensure a peaceful and orderly election.
