The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced on Tuesday that applications for the issuance of Certificates of Authority to bear, carry, or transport Firearms and deadly weapons in connection with the 2016 Elections may be accomplished and submitted online.
Spokesman James Jimenez said a special link is already available in the poll body’s official website, for the purpose.
During the Election Period, from January 10, 2016 to June 8, 2016, it is prohibited to bear, carry or transport firearms and deadly weapons outside of residence or places of business, and in all public places, including any building, street, park and in private vehicles or public conveyances, even if a person is licensed or authorized to possess or carry the same, unless authorized by the Commission, through the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBSFP).
For purposes of the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections, the CBSFP is headed by COMELEC Commissioner Al A. Parreño as Chairman and Senior Officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) as Members.
In Resolution No. 10015, which outlined the “Rules and Regulations on the ban on the bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons and the employment, availment or engagement of the services of security personnel or body guards during the Election Period of the May 9, 2016 Synchronized National and Local Elections” promulgated 13 November 2016, the COMELEC En Banc ruled that “only the Commission, through the CBFSP, has the sole and exclusive power to issue Certificates of Authority (CA).”
