FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City – The Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division based here has sent contingents to reinforce the Philippine National Police’s implementation of gun ban in time for the forthcoming national and local elections.
Major Gen. Andrew D. Costelo, 7th ID commanding commander, said on Monday that the army supports the Commission on Elections’ gun ban and their teams are joining PNP personnel in several checkpoints.
“The troops of the 7ID in its area of responsibility were deployed together with the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement authorities to conduct checkpoints as the election period started last January 9 and will end on June 8, 2022,” Costelo said in a media statement.
He stressed that only bona fide police, military, and members of government law enforcement agencies in complete uniform and while on official duty are allowed to carry firearms for the entire duration of the election period.
Costelo called on the public to abide by the law to avoid being in trouble and cooperate with the authorities at checkpoints.
He also assured that the Army has been committed to supporting fair, honest, peaceful, and secure elections.
“Preserving the integrity of the national and local elections is vital in the exercise of the Filipino people in their right to suffrage. That is why, as part of our sworn duty to serve and protect the people in the exercise of their rights is paramount to us. I have ordered all our troops in 7ID not to be involved in any way in the conduct of the elections. We urged them to isolate themselves with partisan politics,” he said.
