PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said there are calls from various sectors for the police to continue implementing the gun ban throughout the country even after the end of the election period on June 9 as prescribed by the Comelec.

”There are some clamor from the public that we continue the gun ban after (the election period),” said Verzosa.

He added that the matter will be discussed during the PNP’s next firearms summit involving various stakeholders in the firearms industry like gun dealers, manufacturers and even owners.

”There is argument among different sectors…so, during the next firearms summit, we will invite all of them... we will look at how is the carrying of a gun effective in protecting ourselves,” said Verzosa.

Clamor for the continuous implementation of the gun ban cropped up following the peaceful holding of the first-ever automated elections in the country on May 10, from the start of the campaign period last Jan. 10 up to the actual voting on Monday.

Verzosa attributed the “most peaceful” elections in recent memory to the strict implementation of the nationwide total gun ban jointly by the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under supervision by the Comelec.

A total of 1,600 Joint Security Coordinating Centers (JSCCs) were established throughout the country to implement the total gun ban.

As of May 11, data from the National Election Monitoring and Action Center (NEMAC) showed that a total of 2,641 individuals, including active members of the PNP, AFP and other government law enforcement agencies, were arrested since the imposition of the nationwide gun ban.

A total of 2,305 various types of firearms, 269 grenades and explosives, 823 gun replicas and 620 bladed weapons were confiscated from the violators.

Aside from the total gun ban, Verzosa also cited President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s directive for government security forces to dismantle private armed groups (PAGs) throughout the country as part of the government’s stepped-up measures to ensure orderly and peaceful conduct of the polls.

Under Comelec Resolution 8714, only bona fide members of the PNP, AFP and other government and accredited private security agencies are allowed to carry firearms during actual performance of their duty and wearing proper uniform.