The Police Regional
Office (PRO) 11 will intensify its checkpoint operations in all areas in the
region as part of the election gun ban implementation.
PRO 11 director Chief Supt. Marcelo C Morales said he ordered the city and
provincial police directors to beef up their checkpoints as this operation will
be now under the supervision of the Commission on Election(Comelec).
This action is
mandated by the Omnibus Election Code that also calls for prevention of
election-related incidents for a Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE) 2019.
Morales said as the election period will start on January 13, all individuals
are prohibited to bear, carry or
transport firearms, explosives or other deadly weapons.
“Even police officers are not allowed to carry guns unless they are in
uniform and are on-duty,” he said.
He said a regular member of the police and armed forces, as well as other law
enforcement agencies, will be exempted from the nation gun ban, as long as he
is “in full uniform showing clearly and legibly his name, rank and serial
number,” and “in the actual performance of his election duty.”
The region’s top cop also reminded police officers manning the checkpoints to
rigorously observe the guidelines set by the Comelec which include being in
full uniform and setting up checkpoints in well-lighted areas to allow
motorists to read signage and see policemen on duty.
Morales qualified people considered as “high risk,” such as cashier,
disbursing officer, and state witness, among others identified by the Comelec,
may seek gun ban exemption by applying for the appropriate certificate of
authority.
“We are asking the cooperation of everybody to properly implement a safe, clean
and honest elections,” he said.
