Lawmaker Calls for More Gun Ban Checkpoints amid Election-Related Violence

Manila – A party-list lawmaker, Alfred Delos Santos, has urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to establish additional visible gun ban checkpoints and implement gun safety checks at campaign events such as rallies, house-to-house sorties, and motorcades. This call comes in response to reports of election-related violence in advance of the upcoming October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

According to a new release by the Philippines News Agency, Delos Santos expressed concern over the incidents of violence, shootings, and motorcade accidents occurring during the current campaign period. He emphasized the need for responsible campaign conduct and the importance of setting a positive example for the public.

He also noted that some motorcade accidents had resulted in casualties among bystanders, highlighting the necessity of conducting safety checks on vehicles and drivers before and during motorcades.

According to the latest police data, there have been 23 validated election-related incidents (ERIs) as of Thursday, out of a total of 129 recorded cases nationwide. An additional 29 incidents are currently undergoing validation, while 77 were classified as unrelated to the polls. PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo pointed out that this year’s validated ERIs for the BSKE are still fewer than the 40 validated ERIs recorded during the last village polls in 2018.

Since the start of the election period on August 28, the PNP has conducted intensified checkpoint operations supervised by local Commission on Elections (Comelec) officers. These operations have resulted in the seizure of 1,393 firearms from 1,785 arrested gun ban violators as of October 24. The PNP has also received 1,590 surrendered firearms and secured an additional 2,269 firearms for safekeeping.

The election period will conclude on November 29.