Poll-related gun ban gains ground

MANILA, Philippines - A proposal of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for a total gun ban in the May 2010 polls has gained the support of the National Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (NALECC), the country’s highest coordinating body for law enforcement concerns.

According to PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, the committee passed a resolution supporting the gun ban last Sept. 24.

In a statement, NALECC chairman and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said NALECC Resolution No. 02-2009 affirms the quest of all government law enforcement agencies for HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections) 2010 in support of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“The NALECC resolution also bolsters the proposals of the PNP as expressed in its letters request to Comelec Chairman Jose Melo in April and June 2009,” Verzosa said.

Under a total gun ban, only bonafide personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the PNP and other government law enforcement agencies and legal private security and detective agencies, in proper uniform and in the actual performance of their official duties, shall be authorized to bear firearms during the election period.

Also under the proposal, only two security personnel shall be assigned to every candidate whose life is considered to be under threat. The PNP says the two security escorts should also be in proper uniform while on duty.

In a letter dated Oct. 16, Verzosa told Melo of the passage of the NALECC resolution supporting the gun ban and that the PNP and AFP are finalizing the guidelines for the establishment of joint security control desks at the regional, provincial and city or municipal levels, specifically to address election-related security issues and concerns.

According to Verzosa, these joint security control desks may be chaired by the corresponding Comelec official in the area. The desks will also plan and implement a security package necessary to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of elections in that particular area.

The PNP is confident the Comelec will approve its proposal to implement a total gun ban for the May 2010 polls. PNP records show that 97 percent of election-related violence in the previous polls involved loose firearms, which the PNP estimated to be already at 1.1 million as of May this year.