Gun ban lifted nationwide, except in areas to hold special polls

The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Wednesday that even as the nationwide gun ban is lifted on midnight, it will still be implemented in areas where elections were delayed for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls scheduled last October 25. Special elections will be held on November 13 for localities where the elections have been postponed, with the gun ban extended until November 28, said Senior Superintendent Noel Barraceros, PNP deputy spokesman. The policy is that the gun ban must remain in effect 15 days after elections are held, explained Barraceros. The gun ban extension will affect the following areas:

• the entire province of Basilan;
• the first district of Bulacan; and
• some areas in Lanao del Sur.

The liquor ban will also be implemented in affected areas, in preparation for the November 13 special elections. The lifting of the gun ban in most parts of the country means that all authorized gun owners may now carry their guns, provided they have police-issued permits to carry firearms outside their residence. A total of 926 persons have been arrested since the nationwide gun ban was put into effect on September 25, for the October 25 polls. Meanwhile, 768 firearms and 60 grenades have been confiscated over the same period. Of the total number of gun ban violators arrested, 27 are government employees, 18 are police personnel, and nine are soldiers. They will also be facing administrative charges, apart from the criminal cases expected to be filed against them and civilian violators. Still, intensified security measures, especially in urban areas like Metro Manila, will remain as part of the police’s anti-criminality campaign for the coming holiday season, said Barraceros. “Checkpoints will continue including intensive police visibility after the gun ban. The move is aimed at… preventing street crimes, especially with the coming Christmas season," said the PNP deputy spokesman. (See: Red alert in MManila to last until New Year — NCRCom.) With Christmas less than 50 days away, authorities expect a pattern of an upsurge in petty street crimes such as snatching, mugging, and swindling. (See: NCRPO deploys 1000 more cops in Metro Manila for 'ber' months) —With Larissa Mae Suarez/JV, GMANews.TV