Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28) — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is pushing for the review and recalibration of gun ban exemption and security application guidelines for the May 9 elections.
Commissioner George Garcia said they want to streamline the application for gun ban exemption, especially for those working in the judiciary and other government personnel who may face threats.
“Nagiging medyo mabagal yung pag-approve at pag-deny ng mga application…Bakit natin papahirapan kumuha ng exemption lalo na yung mga nasa judiciary, judges, justices, yung mga public servants gaya sa PAO [Public Attorneys Office], katulad ng mga Comelec field personnel? Alam naman natin na sila ay may threat,” said Garcia in a public briefing.
[Translation: The approval and denial of applications are getting slow…Why would we give the members of the judiciary, judges, justices, public servants from PAO, and Comelec field personnel a hard time getting an exemption? We all know that they are prone to threats.]
The review of the guidelines would also cover businessmen, security agencies, and individuals with credible threat assessments.
Moreover, the Comelec noted it is also pushing to decentralize the filling and processing of application.
“Ang purpose natin dito ay ika-cut ang mga administrative things na nakakabagal sa proseso. At the same time, plano natin i-decentralize ang lahat,” said Garcia.
[Translation: Our purpose here to is cut the administrative things that slow down the process. At the same time, we are planning to decentralize everything.]
“Kapag naipasa namin ang resolution sa darating na Miyerkules, diyan na mag-apply sa regional offices, hindi na luluwas sa Maynila, hindi na dito magpa-follow up,” he added.
[Translation: Once we approved the resolution on Wednesday, you can now apply in regional offices. You don’t need to go to Manila and follow up here.]
The election gun ban is currently in effect, and will end on June 8. Under Comelec Resolution No. 10728, the poll body prohibits the unauthorized bearing, carrying, or transporting of firearms and deadly weapons outside residences, businesses, and public places.
The Philippine National Police started accepting applications for gun ban exemption Dec. 1 last year.
Areas of concern
In related news, the Comelec en banc will release on Thursday the list of election areas of concern.
“Sa kasalukuyan po, nag-submit sa amin ang ating PNP at Armed Forces [of the Philippines] ng listahan ng areas of concern, magmula sa green, yellow, orange, at red,” he said.
(Translation: The Comelec, police, and the military classified the election areas of concern in four-color coded categories: green, yellow, orange, and red.)
Category Green refers to areas with no security concern; Category Yellow to those with a history of election-related violence or with existence of political rivalry; Category Orange to places with serious armed threats by terrorist groups or other armed groups; and Category Red to spots with political climate warranting the declaration of Comelec control.
Garcia said they will closely monitor areas under Category Red.
