Effective Dec. 3, 2012, the PNP could no longer issue Permit to Carry Firearms Outside Residence (PTCFOR) in preparation for the gun ban period which starts on Jan. 13, 2013.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 clarified adding that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has the sole power to issue authority to bear, carry or transport firearms, including its spare parts, explosives and its components, outside residence and place of business in the country.

As such, PRO6 director Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr. said that any PTCFOR, Mission Order (MO), Letter Order (LO) and Acknowledgement Receipts (ARE) issued by the Chief, PNP or his duly authorized representative or any other head of government law enforcement/security agencies, prior to or are processed and issued during the election period, are suspended, ineffective, and without force and effect, unless properly covered by Certificates of Authority duly issued by the Committee on the Ban of Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP).

Cruz also enjoined the licensed gun holders to get a copy of the Comelec Resolution and study it to avoid any violation.

"Papaigtingin po natin ang pagpapatupad ng gun ban para po sa kaligtasan, katahimikan at kaayusan ng halalan," the region's top cop said.

It can be noted that the Philippine National Police will be one of the deputized agencies of the Commission on Elections for the purposes of the synchronized national, local and ARMM elections on May.

Contained in Comelec issued Resolution No. 9561-A, the resolution also provides the guidelines for the gun ban.

Generally, it stated that carrying of firearms outside of residence or place of business during the election period is prohibited.

But just like most rules, there are exceptions, said Cruz.

Exempted are: regular members of the police and enlisted personnel of the military; regular officers, members and agents of other government agencies who are actually performing law enforcement and/or security functions; members of privately-owned or operated security, investigative, protective or intelligence agencies; justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeal; and Judges of the Regional Courts and Municipal/Metropolitan/Circuit Trial Courts; and security personnel of accredited foreign diplomatic corps and establishments under international law including foreign military personnel in the Philippines covered by existing treaties and international agreements endorsed by the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Heads of Missions of foreign countries in the Philippines.*