Comelec studying total gun ban proposal for 2010 polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections is studying a proposal by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to do away with gun ban exemptions in the 2010 elections. Comelec chairman Jose Melo said the poll body must consider the side of law-abiding gun owners who could feel "aggrieved" by the proposal. "Pinagaaralan natin, may pros and cons yan. Sinasabi ang masasamang loob lang makakadala ng baril, ang may lisensya na law abiding sila [ang] agrabyado," he said in an interview over dzXL radio. [We are studying the matter. There are pros and cons to it. Some legitimate gun owners say they will be at a disadvantage because criminals do not have to abide by such a ban.] "May pro and con yan, titingnan nating maigi [There are advantages and disadvantages to this, we are looking at them closely]," he added. The PNP earlier moved for the scrapping of the government policy on gun ban exemption during next year's campaign and election period. Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluna, chief of the PNP-Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG), said that despite the gun ban, violence still occurred in past elections. He said poll violence involved some rival candidates and their security personnel covered by the exemption. - GMANews.TV