The Commission on Elections spurned the police proposal for a total gun ban this coming elections saying the plan may even be a violation of the Omnibus Election Code.
In an apparent attempt to advance the drive to account for all the loose firearms as well as curb gun-related election violence mostly involving loose firearms, the Philippine National Police submitted the proposal, reported Bohol Police Director Edgardo Ingking during a recent press conference.
According to the PNP, the 2007 elections had 279 election related violence, and 178 of them involve the use of loose firearms.
The PNP drive is also based upon the National Fire-arms Control Policy, which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed into law just a few weeks ago.
The COMELEC however have other ideas.
Junking the plan, the COMELEC, in reports said, that the PNP proposal may endanger the lives of some government officials and very important persons.
The government poll commissions also added that the proposal may even violate of the Omnibus Election Code.
Article 22, sections 261 paragraph P entitles the COMELEC to assign any public officer who shall supervise the election to carry a gun to preserve peace and enforce the law.
Paragraph T of the same law also allows the implementation or at most three armed bodyguards after COMELEC deliberations and finding the life and security of the candidate is under jeopardy.
Instead of getting frustrated however by the spurned proposal, Police Chief Director General Jesus Versoza said the PNP is going to come up with other strategies to plug on the election related violence especially those involving loose firearms.
As of press time, Police General Versoza has accordingly convened the PNP Task Force Honest Orderly and Peaceful Elections (HOPE) in preparations for their meeting with the COMELEC to map out general security measures especially on gun control.
The PNP wants to solicit advice from the poll body on what is the best gun control measure that can be implemented for the upcoming elections. (PIA)
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