The Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) will no longer be implementing the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) gun ban after the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls were moved to May, 2018.
According to BPPO director Sr. Supt. Felipe Natividad, Camp Dagohoy received an official directive to cancel the measure’s implementation from the police’s national command.
However, Natividad noted that checkpoints will still be set up in key areas across the province as part of the BPPO’s intensified campaign against criminal activities.
READ: Election period starts; gun ban in effect
On October 2, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 10953 postponing the Barangay and SK elections to 2018.
The barangay and SK polls were originally scheduled on October 23 this year.
“Until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, all incumbent barangay officials shall remain in office, unless sooner removed or suspended for cause,” the piece of legislation reads.
In the BPPO’s short implementation of the gun ban, two men were arrested in Getafe and Talibon for violating the prohibition.
READ: 1st election gun ban violator nabbed in Getafe
According to Natividad, it is up to the Bohol Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on whether cases for violating the Omnibus Election Code will still be filed against the arrested violators.
Those arrested for carrying loose firearms, however, will still be charged for violating Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, said Natividad. (Rey Tutas)