PNP to heighten drive on gun-wielding persons
POLICE Regional Office (PRO) VI is bracing for an intensified campaign against persons illegally-possessing firearms.
The heighten drive, PRO-6 public information office Supt. Ranulfo Demiar said, is part of the implementation of the election gun ban, which runs from January 10, 2010 until June 9, 2010.
Demiar said that a joint COMELEC/AFP/PNP teams shall be organized/deployed to conduct intensified implementation of OPLAN SITA and OPLAN BAKAL especially targeting convoys of known political candidates maintaining partisan armed groups (PAGs).
During the said period, all previously-issued permits to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFORs) are suspended.
Further, in gun ban, only regular plantilla members of PNP/AFP and other law enforcers (who are receiving regular compensation for services rendered) are authorized to bear/carry/transport firearms or other deadly weapons, in prescribed uniform showing clearly and legibly his name/rank/serial number, in case rank and serial numbers are inapplicable, his agency identification card showing clearly his name and position (which ID card shall remain visible at all times), with valid mission/letter order and in actual performance of election/official duty or going to and returning from his residence or station.
Under the guidelines issued by PNP, “members of privately-owned or operated security, investigative, protective, or intelligence agencies duly authorized by PNP can possess firearms in uniform with his ID, in the actual performance of duty at his specified place/area.”
The issued firearms of security guards shall be left/deposited in their respective posts when off duty.
“All persons in civilian attire are presumed unauthorized to carry firearms and are subject for arrest and investigation,” the guidelines stated.
Moreover, firearms of arrested person performing duties as security to candidates of any elective position shall be immediately verified thru the Firearms Verification Hotline (FVH) maintained by PNP-FED.
During process of verification, the local PNP units shall provide temporary security detail to candidates secured by those apprehended persons, after confirming legitimacy of subject’s security detail.
He shall be immediately restored to his former duty.
Also, all captured, confiscated/surrendered/deposited/abandoned/forfeited firearms will be initially deposited to the nearest police station for proper documentation/accounting/disposition;
In provision of security detail, only PNP/AFP/NBI personnel and protective agents of PDA (private detective agencies) shall be deputized as security detail during election period provided, detail shall be in proper uniform in performing official security duties.
Security for Politicians
Demiar noted that under the COMELEC gun ban guidelines, only candidates from mayor upwards will be provided with PNP/AFP security details while others may engage the services of protective agents.
Further, not more than two members of PNP/AFP/NBI shall be detailed as security for each candidate, with the addition, upon request, of not more than two protective agents, save in exceptionally meritorious circumstances where additional security details may be requested by candidates for national elective positions, subject to such conditions and restrictions that the COMELEC may impose.
All existing authority granting security detail are also revoked effective January 10, 2010.Affected officials/individuals may reapply for availment of same with COMELEC.
“Candidates for House of Representative and local elective positions, as well as public officers or private individuals, shall file their applications with Regional Joint Security Control Center (R-JSCC) in their respective regions to be chaired by COMELEC Regional Election Director,” Demiar added.
Also, candidates for national elective positions shall file their applications with Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP) at Main Office of COMELEC, Intramuros, Manila.
Security detail of local candidates visiting other provinces/cities shall compulsorily register with the corresponding JSCC.
