By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) will intensify its operations during the election gun ban and the Dinagyang Festival 2025 to ensure public safety.
The election gun ban, which will be strictly enforced, runs from January 12 to June 11, 2025.
It marks the official election period for the National and Local Elections (NLE) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections set for May 12, 2025.
During this period, carrying or transporting firearms and other deadly weapons is prohibited.
The ban applies to all public places, including streets, parks, buildings, private vehicles, and public conveyances, regardless of licenses or authorizations.
Exemptions require written authorization from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), as specified in Resolution No. 10999 issued on May 24, 2024.
Colonel Kim Legada, ICPO chief, noted that since the Dinagyang Festival’s highlights from January 24 to 26 fall within the election period, there is no need for a separate gun ban request.
Legada emphasized the serious consequences of violating the gun ban.
Penalties include imprisonment, permanent disqualification from holding public office, and the loss of voting rights. Foreign violators may also face deportation after serving their prison term.
To ensure compliance, the ICPO will enhance security measures throughout the city, especially during the Dinagyang Festival, to maintain a peaceful environment for residents and visitors.
Legada called on the public to cooperate with authorities.
“Let us work together to uphold safety and create a secure environment for everyone during this critical period. Compliance with the gun ban is a shared responsibility,” he said.
