Advocacy Report
March 2010
Johana Vi E. Gasga
“A lesser violence is installing freedom in the people from fear.”
This has been the primary aim of the Philippine National Police (PNP V) Bicol following the strict implementation of the total gun ban policy imposed by the Commission on Election (COMELEC) with the onset of the political campaign for the May 2010 polls.
Police Supt. Eliciar Bron, Bicol regional police spokesperson said that the effectivity of the COMELEC Resolution No. 8714, which states that no person shall bear firearms in all public places, even if licensed to possess or carry the same, has a positive impact on criminality rate in the region.
Following the enforcement of the Executive Order No. 817 or the surrendering of loose firearms, a presidential commission was created by the Malacanang to put an end in the proliferation of carrying undocumented guns and the possible dismantling of private armed groups, which might mar the first poll automation in the country.
The guideline, however, said that only those persons who are in the regular plantilla of law enforcement agencies are authorized to bear deadly weapons. Included in the exemption of the ban are the members of the AFP, PNP and other government law enforcement agencies deputized by the COMELEC.
Lower crime rate, economic boon
“We believe that one of the initial steps to curb the proliferation of loose firearms during election is through the implementation of gun ban,” Bron asserted.
A study made by the PNP shows that for the past several years, almost 70 percent of the crimes committed in the country have involved illegal use of firearms.
“Criminality with the use of firearms has been reduced at about 30 percent and lower at present,” Bron said in an interview. Thus, the prohibition of bearing firearms outside residences will be “the start of bringing a lasting peace to the country.”
He added that less violence means more investments, “more investors will be coming over and that will pump our economy.”
“The people will be leaving in comfort, free from fear and that is now the avenue of where we can exploit of developing our talents in business. Perhaps we can discuss politics freely and openly,” Bron further said when asked about the feasible effect of this policy on the society.
Gun ban campaign
With its immediate enforcement, local authorities have been undertaking a more intensified campaign against loose firearms thriving in the region.
And due to intense political rivalry and the presence of communist guerillas in upper areas, the COMELEC has placed Bicol region including its 77 towns in the list of the election “hot spots”.
Having the highest number of election-related violence in the region, Masbate has been closely watched by PNP personnel and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to avert any possible unprecedented violence arising from political campaign exercise.
By way of showing dissent over pre-election crimes, the Church has also stepped up on its advocacy on a gunless society, specifically in the island-province of Masbate, where high-powered firearms reportedly exist in every household.
Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi, who has been the bishop of Masbate for 10 years, has supported the all-out gun ban campaign in his plain ways of silent protest, sincere advocacy and fervent prayer.
“I have regularly included this gunless campaign in my homilies, I even asked my parishioners during sermons to raise their hands if they don’t have any firearms in their homes, to my surprise no one raised their hands, Baylon retold one of his sermons during a Mass in Masbate church.
Implementation
Meanwhile, President Arroyo has directed to create a security commission and, thus study the possible dismantling of private armed groups in order to have a clean, peaceful and honest election process in the country.
This has led to the creation of the Joint Security Coordinating Center in cities and down to provincial security committee center being manned by local commander of the Army, COMELEC, and PNP, Bron explained.
The newly established offices as security body centers determine the deployment of these personnel in the conduct of checkpoints with the approval of the COMELEC, said the spokesperson.
Based on the reports validated and confirmed by the Intellegence peronnnel, aside from static checkpoints in some alleged election areas of concern, there should be a marked vehicle, personnel of either PNP or Army equipped with a lighted or visible identification cards especially at night.
He furthered that police operatives and army troopers have to be in complete uniform, under an officer that must observe police procedures to the utmost human rights of the commuters.
“We have mobile checkpoints installed in places where we believe unscrupulous people with personal guns will be passing by,” said Bron as their hint.
In the deployment of additional personnel, however, when the local campaign period starts by March 26, he added: “We are going to place some of our personnel both ARMY and the PNP on conceded-election watch list areas.”
In case of Masbate with 21 recorded pre-election incidents this year, the moment the local campaign period starts will be the only time for the local officials to determine the additional forces, depending on the contesting political parties.
Latest number of violators
There are now 77 gun ban violators regionwide, of which Masbate taking the highest number of checkpoint accomplishments. Out of 30, five of them were barangay captains and government officials, according to Bron.
This was followed by Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes and Camarines Norte with one recorded violator.
The apprehension of violators was the result of intensified checkpoint operations and service of search warrants.
Meanwhile, the duration for the gun ban has started from February 9 to June 9, based on the rules and regulations of the COMELEC.
“But in some places, we believe and if we can substantiate the possible eruption of violence because of some defeated candidates and or interference of some armed groups, we’ll keep checkpoint operations on continued bases until the place is normalized,” Bron assured.
And as the country braces for the May 2010 national and local elections, the government law enforcement body through the nationwide gun ban policy takes actions to once and for all curb the proliferation of election-related violence that has festered the country in decades.
With Filipinos filled so much with hope on the outcome of this year’s first ever poll automation, to make life better in this country, no effort must be spared to make this exercise as peaceful and credible as possible. Hostility among civilians and armed forces has to end now in order to achieve national integrity and better economy for the country.
Liberty wouldn’t be hard to install in from fear as it seems. It’s simple as: Putting one’s gun away.
This article served as final exam in Advocacy Report.
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