Electronic filing required for firearms applications during election period in connection with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections this October, says Comelec.
In a resolution released on Saturday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that applications for the issuance of a Certificate of Authority to carry firearms must be electronically filed before the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC) from June 5 to November 15.
The resolution, promulgated on May 17, stated that the filing of applications should be done through electronic means, leveraging the advancements in information technology. This approach aims to ensure efficient government service delivery and address logistical challenges in some regions, while prioritizing mutual safety in the new normal. Applicants can file their applications through the Comelec website at www.comelec.gov.ph.
The gun ban exemption list includes high-ranking officials such as the President, Vice President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Senate President, incumbent senators, House of Representatives Speaker, members of the House, and justices of various courts. Judges, Ombudsman officials and staff, prosecutors, and agents of investigative agencies are also exempted. Cabinet Secretaries, Election Officers, Provincial Election Supervisors, and Regional Election Directors are given automatic exemption as well.
During the election period, the gun ban prohibits the bearing, carrying, and transport of firearms and other deadly weapons. Violation of the gun ban is considered an election offense, which carries a penalty of one to six years of imprisonment without the possibility of probation. Additionally, it results in the loss of the offender’s right to vote and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
The CBFSC, responsible for overseeing the ban, is composed of a Comelec commissioner as chairperson, along with senior officers from the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines as members. Various officers and members from law enforcement agencies, departments, divisions, and other public institutions are also exempted from the gun ban.
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AMA ACLC San Pablo
