Gun owners, mostly from security agencies, have begun seeking the renewal of their gun ban exemptions for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, according to the Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, who says the Commission on Elections has received 21 applications from security agencies as of last week. Of the total number of applications, about 11 are ready for release, he told reporters in a press briefing.
Aside from private security firms, law enforcement bodies and security detail of government officials sought to have gun ban exemptions.
Last May 13 elections, only security personnel of the following personalities had exemptions from bringing guns: the president, vice president, senators not up for reelections, justices, judges, cabinet secretaries, the chair and commissioners of the poll body, the AFP chief of staff and major service commanders, and the PNP director general and its senior officers. MM
