MANILA, Philippines — A nationwide gun ban, coinciding with the start of the official campaign period for the May 2025 midterm elections, will take effect on Sunday, Jan. 12, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced yesterday.
Speaking at a news briefing at Camp Crame, PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo emphasized the importance of the gun ban in maintaining peace and order during the election period.
Only specific groups, including law enforcement agencies, justices, judges and certain professionals such as cashiers handling large sums of money, are exempt under the Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution on the gun ban, according to Fajardo.
Other individuals must apply for a certificate of authority from the Comelec to carry firearms legally.
The PNP, in coordination with the Joint Security Coordinating Council (JSCC), is closely monitoring election-related security risks, including the presence of private armed groups (PAGs), loose firearms and intense political rivalries, which are known triggers for election-related violence.
“As of the fourth quarter of 2024, we had identified three active PAGs, located in Region 3, Region 7 and Mindanao,” Fajardo said in Filipino.
“Additionally, there are five potential PAGs under monitoring in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao,” she added.
The PNP said that it is working to identify and assess areas with election risk factors.
It added that these areas would be color-coded as election areas of concern (EACs) – green, yellow, orange and red – based on factors such as the presence of PAGs and intense political rivalries.
The final list of EACs will be determined by the Comelec after a thorough assessment and recommendations from the JSCC and related committees.
Fajardo reminded the public of the strict implementation of the gun ban and urged cooperation to ensure a peaceful election period.
“The PNP will remain vigilant, especially in areas with heightened security concerns. We are prepared to deploy additional forces as needed to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process,” she said.
The PNP also reiterated that any violation of the gun ban would be met with appropriate legal action as part of its commitment to a safe and orderly election.
Checkpoints
With the start of the gun ban, Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced that checkpoints would be set up in various parts of the country.
“Comelec checkpoints are different from existing checkpoints of the PNP because those of the Comelec, the goal is not just a gun or deadly weapon,” Garcia said.
He added the Comelec’s intention in setting up checkpoints this early is to establish the importance of ensuring peace and order during the entire election period.
The Comelec chief assured the public that there is nothing to fear with the setting up of checkpoints.
“All checkpoints must ensure the constitutional rights of the Filipinos,” he said, as he noted that proper procedures and guidelines would be observed by authorities.
The establishment of checkpoints will depend on the contenders in the elections or the history of violence in the area, according to Garcia.
He said the checkpoints would allow the Comelec to assess the peace and order situation and enable the poll body to decide whether an area shall be placed under its control or alert classification shall be downgraded.
He added that the Comelec and the PNP are set to meet on Thursday to discuss and identify the so-called areas of concern during the elections.
The checkpoints will be operational until the end of the election period on June 12 or may be removed earlier, depending on the peace and order situation, according to Garcia.
He said policemen and possibly members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines would be manning the checkpoints, although they would be under the direct supervision of the election officer in the area.
He added the Comelec had already received numerous applications for gun ban exemption, but the poll body is giving automatic exemptions to legislators and top government officials.
Longer printing time
Over four months before the mid-term elections, the printing of estimated 73 million official ballots has already begun.
Garcia said the printing of ballots is expected to be completed within 77 days, although it may take longer due to unavoidable factors.
“There are always problems with printing activities, but the important thing is that we act early so that even if we are late in the timeline, we can still deliver, especially since the next process is to ship out the ballots,” he added.
Even before the printing began, the Comelec had to undergo long preparations and thresh out numerous technical matters, according to Garcia.
Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay said the start of the printing of ballots signaled the kick-off of the “super election year.”
Comelec printing committee vice chair Helen Flores said the poll body recorded the earliest-ever printing of ballots in history yesterday.
Flores added that the printing of ballots usually starts in February, but this time they started in the first week of January.
With the projected 950,000 ballots to be printed daily, she said they could finish the job by March 25.
“But that’s not realistic because there are re-prints and verification processes that could lead to the rejection of ballots. So the April 14 target is more accurate,” she noted.
Technology provider Miru Systems managing director Andrew Sim gave assurance that their company is committed to ensuring that the printing process is carried out with the highest standard of security, transparency and accuracy.
Garcia said the four printing machines of the National Printing Office (NPO) are on standby, in case a problem arises in the printing of ballots.
“In case the number is not reached each day, there are the NPO’s printing machines. But I believe it can be done,” he added.
The Comelec will exert all efforts to ensure that ballots and all other election supplies shall be ready before election day, according to Garcia.
He said the Comelec would be transparent in the printing of ballots, which will be open for observation to interested parties and livestreamed through the poll body’s official Facebook account.
Security measures
The Comelec is enforcing strict security measures while printing the official ballots.
“The most important document in an election is always the ballot, so our security measures for printing them are different,” Garcia said in a radio interview yesterday.
He added that the printing of ballots is a complicated one because special paper is required and there must be security markings.
Each ballot must be thoroughly checked to ensure it complies with the right size, color, font and secret markings.
All the 73 million ballots will also be fed to the counting machines to ensure they will be properly scanned.
“There is a hidden code and at the same time markings because that is the number one accountable form,” Garcia said.
He noted that of the 73 million ballots to be printed, 68.4 million are for the midterm elections while 2.3 million are for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections.
Over 100,000 ballots will also be printed for the local absentee voting to be participated in by government personnel who will vote ahead of election day, according to the poll chief.
Since the elections will be automated, he said there would be no excess ballots. — Mayen Jaymalin