Recognizing the threats to life and limb that journalists usually receive, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Friday that it might be able to help those who want to hold on to their guns during the election period, by waiving the P5,000 application fee for those applying to be exempted from the gun ban.
“Yung waiver ng P5,000 baka pwede yan (It might be possible for us to waive the P5,000), personally I will support it," Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento told reporters in an interview, adding however that the poll body will probably not exempt all media practitioners from the gun ban.
Sarmiento issued the statement after members of the National Press Club, led by Benny Antiporda, reportedly asked for gun ban exemption for journalists.
The commissioner said that he still has to relay the request to the Comele en banc. “Sabi ko sa kanila ipapaabot ko po sa kanila ang concern ninyo sa (I told them I would relay their concern to the) commission," he said.
Earlier, the Comelec issued Resolution 1814, which bans candidates and private individuals from carrying firearms and hiring bodyguards during the election period which will run from January 10 to June 9, 2010. [See: Comelec issues reso vs guns, goons on 2010 polls]
Exempted from the ban are members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other law enforcement agencies, according to the resolution.
The poll body, however, said it will be allowing individuals with security threats to have escorts during the election period upon application and assessment. The escorts can come from the PNP, AFP, or the National Bureau of Investigation.
Violation of the gun ban is an election offense, which entails a punishment of six months to one year imprisonment. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan/JV, GMANews.TV
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