Uniformed cops to man checkpoints—Comelec
City Commission on Elections (Comelec) officer Jonathan Sayno clarified that road checkpoints relative to the election gun ban shall be manned by police officers in uniform and must be located in well-lit areas.
He added that the police has to inform the Comelec whenever they conduct checkpoints.
The searches will be made on “plain view principle.” The police manning the checkpoints should properly comply with the governing rules and regulations in the conduct of searches, Sayno added.
Earlier, the joint team of the Commission on Elections, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police announced the intensification of the campaign dubbed as Oplan Sita and Oplan Bakal as election period formally started yesterday.
The campaign will center on convoys of political candidates maintaining “partisan armed groups.”
The Oplan Sita and Oplan Bakal is the PNP’s operation plan relative to the implementation of the total gun ban which started Sunday, Jan. 10 and will end on June 9, 2010.
The police operations focus on the conduct of road checkpoints as firearms and the transport of firearms are main factors in election related violence.
Iloilo City Police Director Sr. Supt. Melvin Mongcal appealed to everyone to cooperate with the police and other law enforcement agencies in the strict implementation of the total gun ban. Only regular plantilla members of the PNP, AFP and other law enforcers who are receiving compensation for the services rendered are authorized to carry guns or other deadly weapons in prescribed uniform showing clearly and legibly his name, rank and serial number.
The total gun ban suspended all previously issued permits to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFORs) effective yesterday. All persons in civilian attire are presumed unauthorized to carry guns and are subject for arrest.
In the same press statement, Mongcal said members of the privately owned or operated security, investigative or protective and intelligence agencies duly authorized by PNP can possess firearms in uniform with his identification card in the actual performance of duty at his specified area.
Issued firearms of security guards shall be left or deposited in their respective posts when in off duty.
Election period in the Philippines is 120 days before the actual date of the election and 30 days after the election. It is different from the campaign period. Candidates seeking local elective posts are allowed to campaign from March 26 to May 8.
