THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have warned both civilians, uniformed personnel and members of other government law enforcement agencies against the unauthorized carrying of firearms as the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-imposed national firearms ban took effect on Sunday in connection with the coming May polls.

Under the poll body’s rules, the National Police stressed that all permits to carry firearms outside of residence are suspended for the entire duration of the election period.

All authority granting police security detail to government and other private individuals under threat are likewise revoked.

Only the police body, the Army, National Bureau of Investigation and protective agents of private detective agencies may be deputized as security details provided that they shall be in proper uniform and in the actual performance of official security details.

All security details and exemptions from the gun ban are subject to Comelec approval.

Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, Jr., military spokesman, said that they are ready to undertake active support to the police body through the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Centers in implementing the nationwide gun ban and Comelec checkpoints for the 2013 election period.

“The AFP will also maintain vigilance and is prepared to complement police forces in dismantling private armed groups along with organized crime groups that may take advantage of the campaign season,” Burgos said.

Likewise, Burgos, said, the Army’s high command had issued strict guidelines to instill awareness and enforce compliance among all soldiers and paramilitary personnel regarding the firearm control program.

According to regulations, regular members of the Armed Forces, Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliaries are authorized to bear firearms provided that they strictly adhere to the following guidelines: (1) wearing AFP-prescribed uniforms with visible names and rank; (2) going to and from or in actual performance of official duty; and (3) the firearm is governed with appropriate documents.

With the start of the Comelec gun ban, the National Police on Sunday arrested a certain Bernato Daria, a member of the Batang City jail, for illegal possession of a fragmentation hand grenade.

A police patrol team accosted the suspect for urinating in a public place. During a body search, an MK2-fragmentation grenade was found in his pocket.