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MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) suspended the permit to carry firearms outside the residence (PTCFOR) nationwide as part of the security measures for the eight-day filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) across the country which started on Friday.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the suspension of PTCFOR is in effect from September 30 at midnight until 7 a.m. on October 9.
“This is to ensure that the COC depot October 1-8 will be free from firearms incidents and to ensure the safety of the public. Only members of the PNP, AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and other law enforcement agencies who perform official duties and uniforms prescribed by the agency will be permitted to carry firearms. “He said in a statement.
The measure was based on the PNP circular memorandum setting out guidelines and procedures to secure the conduct of the 2022 national and local elections and on a letter of request from the Electoral Commission (Comelec).
Eleazar said the restriction will be reinforced by the aggressive conduct of police operations against loose guns and members of partisan armed groups capable of committing violence due to intense political rivalry.
Meanwhile, Eleazar has tasked all relevant police units to ensure the deployment of a sufficient number of police officers to the areas where the COC deposition will take place so that they can ensure the safety of all and enforce standards. minimum public health requirements.
The deposit of COCs for the president, vice-president, senator and party representative will be held at the Sofitel Garden Tent in Pasay City while the deposit of local posts will take place at the local offices of Comelec in the various cities and towns. municipalities.
Eleazar reminded the police officers who will be deployed to ensure that the directives published by Comelec concerning the filing of COCs are strictly observed.
Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas on Thursday said candidates for national office in next year’s election are only allowed to have three companions when filing their COCs.
He also recalled that those who will be admitted to the Sofitel Garden Tent will have to present a negative result in the antigen test or the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, which was carried out within 24 hours.
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