SOME 2,105 violators have been arrested and 2,198 firearms seized since the implementation of the gun ban in relation to the May 12 national and local elections, the PNP said yesterday.
The arrested violators included 16 policemen — 14 of them in the active service, one suspended, and one marked absent without official leave or AWOL, the PNP said.
The violators also included 12 soldiers, nine government officials, 11 foreign nationals, and 36 security guards.
The PNP also said that 693 of the violators were arrested in the National Capital Region, while 287 were accosted in Central Visayas and
286 in Central Luzon.
On the assorted firearms that were seized, the PNP said 860 were revolvers and 615 were pistols.
The PNP said 729 of the firearms were seized in NCR, 292 in Central Visayas, 287 in Central Luzon, and 206 in Mimaropa.
The PNP began implementing the gun ban on January 12 when the election period started. The election period will end on June 11.
The PNP also reported that the number of validated election-related incidents (ERIs) has increased to 12 — 10 violent and two non-violent.
There are three suspected ERIs, all classified as violent.
Twenty-four other incidents, earlier classified as suspected ERIs, were found to be not related to the polls.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday issued a stern warning to candidates and political parties against handing out prizes during events and contests, saying this is considered as vote buying.
In an interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia said candidates and political parties are “prohibited from giving out prizes or rewards. That will be vote buying. Let us avoid such acts.”
He said even sponsoring the food during the event would be considered as vote buying.
“If you feed everybody there, including the audience, that can also be considered vote buying,” he added.
On the other hand, the poll chief said they do not see anything illegal when a candidate participates during such events or contests.
“They can serve as judges, put the crown, place the sash or whatever… They can participate in such activities,” said Garcia.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, vote buying are acts wherein a person gives offers, or promises money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate.
Garcia urged the public to use the Voter’s Information Sheet (VIS) that they will receive as their “kodigos” or cheat sheets when they cast their votes during the May 12 polls.
Garcia said registered voters may use the VIS to predetermine the names of candidates that they will be voting for on Election Day.
“Let’s use this VIS, bring them to the polling precincts, and use them as your kodigos, where you will copy the names of candidates you’ll vote for,” he said, saying this will hasten the casting of votes on May 12.
“If you don’t have kodigos, you will only look for the name of the candidates for senators, party-list, and those from governor down to councilors right inside the polling precincts,” he explained.
He said having the VIS will also make it unnecessary to rely on sample ballots that are distributed outside polling places.
“Giving out sample ballots on Election Day is prohibited. If you use the VIS, no one will question you for bringing it since it came from the Comelec,” said Garcia.
Under Republic Act No. 7904, the Comelec must provide all registered voters with a Voter’s Information Sheet at least 30 days before an election.
The VIS shall include the voter’s name, address, the precinct and the place where he is registered to vote, simplified instructions as to the casting of votes, and the full list of candidates, both national and local.
Yesterday, top ranking officials of the Comelec personally distributed the VIS in Pasay City. – With Gerard Naval
