You would think that with constant reminders from both the Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police that the May midterm polls should be peaceful and orderly and therefore a strict gun ban shall be implemented to the letter.
But it seems not a few people did not get the memo from authorities—or deliberately chose to ignore it—and they now have to suffer the legal consequences, including arrest, prosecution and jail terms once found guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
This month, according to the PNP, they have so far arrested 1,398 individuals, including nine of its personnel, for violation of the election gun ban.
Citing the National Election Monitoring Action Center’s latest data, the PNP said the figure was monitored from Jan. 12 to March 1 this year. Of this figure, 1,328 are civilians, 31 are security guards, nine are police officers, seven are Armed Forces of the Philippines members, and six are foreign nationals, among others.
The report showed that most violators were monitored in Metro Manila with 419, followed by Central Luzon with 186 and Calabarzon with 106.
Authorities also conducted checkpoints and police operations that resulted in the confiscation of 1,422 firearms.
The PNP reported it has validated six election-related incidents. Three of these were logged in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and one each in Ilocos, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Soccsksargen. We expect more as the campaign period reaches fever-pitch.
The PNP started implementing the nationwide election gun ban last January 12. It said the gun ban aims to ensure peace and order, as the government believes it could lessen gun-related violence during the midterm polls in May.
The PNP has been tasked with the responsibility to dismantle private armed groups, also known as private armies, in the employ of corrupt politicians out to perpetuate themselves in power, to intimidate or coerce the people to vote for them, or to liquidate those they consider as threats to their candidacy.
This is particularly true in the provinces and in remote areas where they can operate with impunity.
Everyday, we read news reports of election-related violence in various parts of the country, especially in the Bangsamoro provinces where it appears political dynasties want to stay in power for as long as they can.
This situation cannot go on without putting our democratic system in grave peril.
Free, fair and credible elections are a hallmark of the democratic system.
The use of force or violence to sway voters’ preferences runs counter to free choice and must therefore be roundly condemned as antithetical to clean and honest polls that we want.
