THE PNP is “continuously monitoring” 48 private armed groups (PAGs) which may pose threats to the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on October 30 this year, police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said yesterday.
Acorda said the 48, which includes three “active” and 45 “potential” PAGs throughout the country, “may mobilize for the 2023 Barangay and SK Elections in October.”
Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, chief of the PNP’s Public Information Office, said the three PAGs were classified as active because they have records of “active involvement” in criminal offenses, including harassment.
On the other hand, the 45 others were classified as “potential” PAGs because “based on our assessment, there is a big possibility they would be used by unscrupulous individuals in sowing violence during the elections,” noting that “based on our historical data, candidates in elections and their supporters resort to harassments.”
Maranan said some of the PAGs are in Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Mindanao, Caraga, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“We are monitoring these PAGS because they are a huge threat to our Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections,” said Maranan, adding that Acorda has directed commanders of the PNP police regional offices and national support units “to intensify the campaign against these threat groups.”
“That is what we are trying to avoid during the coming barangay and SK elections. We want peaceful and orderly elections,” added Maranan, explaining the intensified campaign against the PAGs.
Last week, the PNP said it has started preparing for the BSKE, including coordination with the
Commission on Elections, to ensure honest, orderly, and peaceful elections.
The PNP said it will implement a gun ban during the 90-day election period, from August 28 to November 29, in keeping with Comelec rules.
GUN BAN
The Comelec said applications for gun ban exemption will kick off on June 5, almost three months ahead of the start of the 2023 BSKE election period, which starts on August 28.
In a press conference, Comelec- Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC) chairperson Commissioner Aimee Ferolino said: “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.”
The application period, according to Resolution No. 10918, will run from June 5 to November 15, 2023.
“If we again open this during the Election Period, we may lack the time to do what we need to do with the applications,” she said, adding that the poll body decided to open the application period earlier than before to have more time to evaluate the applications.
“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,” said Ferolino.
Asked if they see a deluge of applications given the recent spate of violence in the country, the poll official answered in the negative.
“There is no widespread, massive threat we are seeing that would trigger an influx in applications,” she said.
The election period for the October 30 BSKE is set to run from August 28 to November 29.
During the election period, it is prohibited to carry or bear firearms unless authorized by the poll body.
According to Comelec Resolution No. 10918, full exemption shall be granted to the president of the Philippines, vice president of the Philippines, senators, members of the House of Representatives, judges and justices, Armed Forces of the Philippines senior commanders, Philippine National Police senior officials, Cabinet secretaries and undersecretaries, Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsmen, state prosecutors, and Comelec officials.
Also exempted are those belonging to the sectors of law enforcement agents, diplomatic missions, security agencies, cashiers and disbursing officers, high-risk individuals, sports shooters, and security details.
The Comelec said applications for gun ban exemption shall be initially filed electronically by visiting www.comelec.gov.ph and clicking the Gun Ban Exemption Application link.
Ferolino said the application’s approval shall not take long if the requirements are completely submitted. “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 said. — With Gerard Naval
