PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. has ordered all police offices and units nationwide to intensify operations against 48 private armed groups and loose firearms ahead of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for Oct. 30.
The PNP is continuously monitoring the activities of three active private armed groups and 45 potential groups that may mobilize for the upcoming polls, Acorda said in a statement on Monday.
The PNP said it is focusing more on Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 5 (Bicol), 6 (Western Visayas), 13 (Caraga), Cordillera Administrative Region, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Acorda said part of the early interventions are operations to take away firearms.
“We are focusing more on the preventive aspect of crime control as instructed by the President. This is done by taking away the instruments of crime and violence by also accounting for the criminal elements who set into motion the criminal motive,” Acorda said.
PNP Public Information Office chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said that based on their records, private armed groups are involved in murder and harassment cases.
Based on PNP data, a total of 10,971 loose firearms have been accounted for by the police while a total of 6,221 more guns were received in various police units across the country for safekeeping, mainly due to expired licenses, since January this year.
The same data revealed that a total of 27,948 wanted persons were either arrested or surrendered to the police.
“Aside from operations against wanted persons and loose firearms, the PNP also neutralized 187 criminal gangs with the arrest of 854 and surrender of 86 gang members, and confiscation of 126 firearms also since January this year,” Acorda said.
In accordance with Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 10902, the 90-day election period for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election will commence on Aug. 28, with the filing of certificates of candidacy.
Acorda said the PNP will strictly enforce all prohibited acts during the entire election period as enumerated under the Omnibus Election Code and resolutions passed by the Comelec.
“These prohibited acts include the bearing, carrying, or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons in public places including any building, street, park, private vehicle, or public conveyance unless authorized in writing by the Comelec and also prohibited during this period is the use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates,” he said.
The COC filing period for the 2023 BSKE will be from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2.
The Comelec on Monday said opening the applications for gun ban exemption earlier or several months before the Aug. 28 start of the election period for the BSKE will give them more time to assess the applications.
Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, chairperson of the poll body’s Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC), said they will be accepting applications for gun ban exemption beginning June 5.
“This will ensure that only the right people will have the authority to carry firearms. If we open late, those truly eligible to apply in order to protect themselves won’t be able to get their exemptions at the right time. By June 5, we will start accepting applications for certificates of authority to carry firearms. For the first time, we will be opening the acceptance of applications earlier,” she said in a press briefing.
The filing period for the application for gun ban exemption will be from June 5 until Nov. 15.
Asked if they are expecting an increase in applications amid the recent incidents of violence in the country, she said, “There is no widespread, massive threat we are seeing that would trigger an influx in applications.”
Ferolino added that the approval of applications will not take long if the requirements are complete.
“About one week to a maximum of 15 days upon submission of the complete requirements, it can be approved. It only gets delayed if they lack requirements,” she added.
