GUN ban and other prohibitions during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election period are now in force.
Checkpoints were set up nationwide Saturday all over the country. At the same time, police authorities placed 5,744 villages on their watchlist for potential violence, said Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, the PNP spokesman.
During the election period, which ends on May 21, gun owners might not bring their firearms outside their homes, even if they had permits to carry, Bulalacao said in an interview with newsmen.
At least one person was arrested at the start of the gun ban early Saturday, a person who was caught with a firearm inside a KTV bar in Cadiz City, Bulalacao said.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections has asked President Rodrigo Duterte to declare May 14, 2018 (Monday) as non-working holiday in connection with the village and youth council polls.
“The Comelec has already asked for May 14, 2018 to be declared a special non-working holiday. A proclamation from the Office of the President is required,” said Comelec spokesperson James Arthur Jimenez.
Jimenez said the Comelec made the request through Resolution 10301 promulgated on Thursday (April 12) and signed by members of the Commission en banc composed of acting chairman Al Parreno and commissioners Luie Tito Guia, Ma. Rowena Amelia Guanzon and Sheriff Abas.
The poll official said there was a need to declare the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections a special non-working holiday to afford registered voters the opportunity to participate fully in the exercise.
The government scheduled on May 14 the BSKE following its decision to postpone it twice on Oct. 31, 2016 and Oct. 23, 2017.
The Comelec declared the start of the election period Saturday with the filing of Certificates of Candidacy of aspiring candidates and reelectionists.
At the same time, former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the proposal to require candidates to submit resumes (personal data) together with their COCs could only be voluntary.
“It cannot be mandatory, nor can it be used as a reason to refuse a validly accomplished COC,” he said.
Larrazabal also said non-submission of a program of government by village and youth council candidates “cannot be used to disqualify a candidate, nor can it be used as basis to impose any penalty.”
During the Election Period, the poll body imposed a gun ban and installed police security checkpoints nationwide.
It also prohibited the transferring of government officers and employees, including public school teachers.
The Comelec will not allow any appointment or hiring of new employees to any national or local government office or agency, including government-owned or controlled corporations.
Suspension of any elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay officer is also prohibited beginning Saturday, unless it will be for purposes of applying the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.”
The Comelec set the campaign period on May 4 until May 12 when candidates are not allowed to give donations or gift in cash or in kind to voters.
A simulation of this year’s elections will be conducted in Tondo, Manila on April 21 to test the readiness of the members of the Electoral Boards and the BBOCs to perform their respective duties.
The simulation will enable the poll body to identify potential problems and resolutions, and to help voters be familiar with what to expect on Election Day.
Voters are to choose one chairman and six barangay council members while young voters will elect their SK chief and six council members.
