BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – The election period officially started in January 9 with the enforcement of gun ban and establishment of Commission on Elections (COMELEC) checkpoints in strategic areas in the region.
COMELEC Regional Director Ederlino Tabilas, Assistant Regional Director Vanessa Roncal and Baguio City Election Officer John Paul Martin with Cordillera Police Regional Director PBGen. Roland Lee and Baguio City Police Office Director PCol. Glenn Lonogan led the monitoring of the COMELEC checkpoints at the different strategic areas in Baguio midnight of Sunday January 9.
Lee with Benguet Provincial Police Office Director PCol. Reynaldo Pasiwen then proceeded to Tuba and La Trinidad for the monitoring of checkpoints in the province.
Martin said the implementation of the checkpoints signals the start of the election period until June 8, 2022.
All the provincial, municipal and city police offices and stations with their counterpart from the Armed Forces of the Philippines are implementing COMELEC checkpoints in strategic areas in the Cordillera region as part of the preparations for the May 9, 2022 national and local elections.
The PRO-Cor reported that there are 111 COMELEC checkpoints established in the entire region manned by more than 1,000 police personnel until June 8, 2022.
The province of Abra has the highest number of checkpoints with 29, followed by Mountain Province with 23, Benguet with 14, Kalinga with 13, Baguio City with 12, Ifugao with 11 and Apayao with nine checkpoints.
Under COMELEC Resolution No. 10728, the PNP has suspended the validity of all Permits to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR) issued to licensed firearm holders, juridical entities, and members of government law enforcement agencies.
All gun-carrying privileges by virtue of PTCFOR issued by the PNP are suspended for the entire duration of the election period. Also suspended are permits issued by the PNP to transport firearms, ammunition, explosives, public firearms display and exhibits, as well as employment of security personnel for VIPs.
The PNP said that under the COMELEC resolution, a checkpoint must have properly labeled signage to notify the motorists. It must bear the name of the chief of police in the area and should be positioned in a well-lit location that will not hamper the smooth flow of traffic and regular activities. Law enforcement officers must wear the prescribed uniform while conducting the checkpoint operations.
The public is reminded that they are not compelled to go out of their vehicles for physical check because the inspection is meant to proceed only through visual search.
“We are very confident that the COMELEC checkpoints will go on smoothly and orderly all throughout the election period as our partners from the AFP and PNP have been doing these checkpoints for peace and order purposes, pandemic purposes and now for the election period,” Martin said. **JDP/RMC- PIA-CAR
