Comelec signals start of election period

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes on Friday announced that checkpoints will be placed in strategic areas in Metro Manila after midnight as part of the security preparations for the barangay elections.

Brillantes said the checkpoint will be set up simultaneous with the election gun ban which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, which is also the start of the election period.

The checkpoint will be manned by the government's security forces.

“At midnight is the start of the election period, at 12:01 am (Saturday) lalabas kami ulit para maglagay ng checkpoints kasi mag-umpisa na din ang gun ban starting 12:01 am which is actually the commencement of the election period that will last up to November 12," he said.

Comelec Commissioner Grace Padaca said the checkpoints will be placed at the: Navotas-Malabon area; Monumento in Caloocan City. Trinoma, North Avenue in Quezon City; Pasig-Ortigas area, Kalayaan, Makati; Fort Bonifacio area and Pasay, and Paranaque Airport road area.

In Resolution No. 9735, the Comelec said "gun ban exemptions issued in connection with the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections shall be recognized as valid for purposes of the October 28, 2013 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections.”

The exemptions, however, should be renewed with the Comelec for the October 28 elections.

Those who are exempted from the gun ban were the Internal Security from the Offices of the Vice President; Secretary of Interior and Local Government; and National Defense; State, Regional, Provincial, and City Prosecutors of the Department of Justice; Internal Security Division of the Bureau of Treasury; agents of the Bureau of Corrections; members of the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines; National Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; Intelligence, Investigation and Customs Police Divisions of the Bureau of Customs; Philippine Ports Authority; Philippine Economic Zone Authority police forces; Government Guard Forces; Investigation, and Intelligence Divisions of the Bureau of Immigration; Manila International Airport Authority Police Force; Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority Police Force; and Land Transportation Office Law Enforcement Service among others

Meanwhile, those who are allowed to have bodyguards are the President, Vice President, senators who are not running for re-election, Justices, Judges, Cabinet Secretaries, Chairman and Commissioners of the poll body, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and AFP Major Service Commanders, and Director Generals and Senior Officers of the Philippine National Police.

Violators of the gun ban will be punished with imprisonment of one to six years, permanent disqualification to hold public office, and deprivation of the right to vote.