BACOLOD CITY – The Commission on Elections 60-day gun ban in the Fifth District of Negros Occidental, where a special election for congressman will be held on June 2, starts today.

The prohibition on firearms covers the towns of La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinigaran, and Binalbagan and city of Himamaylan, which has more than 200,000 voters.

The district's congressional seat was declared vacant after Rep. Ignacio Arroyo died of a liver ailment last January 26.

Prospective candidates include Board Member Emilio "Dino" Yulo III, Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol, and former Board Member Enrique Montilla.

The filing for the certificates of candidacy is on May 14 and 15 while the campaign period is from May 17 to 31.

Provincial Election Supervisor Jessie Suarez said in an interview he is discussing security arrangements for the special election with police and military officials of Negros Occidental.

Suarez had earlier said the Comelec has set aside P21.6 million for the special election.

House Resolution 2171 certified the vacancy of the congressional post in the fifth district and called for a special election to fill the vacancy.

The House resolution stated that "(i)n order to uphold the system of democratic representation in government and to ensure that the people of the fifth district of Negros Occidental are not denied proper representation in the 15th Congress, there is an urgent need to hold a special election to fill the vacancy in the said district."

OTHER PROHIBITIONS

Meanwhile, the Comelec has also scheduled a liquor ban from June 1 to 2; ban on public works, May 3 to June 1; ban on hiring of new employees, May 3 to June 1; and ban on transfer or detail of civil service employee and suspension of elective provincial, city, municipal, or barangay officials, April 18 to June 1.*NLG