Election period for 2018 village, youth council polls begin
The Commission on Election (COMELEC) formally announced on April 14 the start of barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK; commonly translated as village youth council) election period.
The start of the election period also opened the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC), which will last until April 20.
Photo credits to Rappler
A gun ban also took effect on April 14. The said gun ban is considered one of the safeguards of peace and order every election period.
Photo credits to Shutterstock
Aside from the uniformed men of the Philippine National Police (PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), no one will be allowed to carry firearms in public. This ban covers even those with a license to carry firearms.
The COMELEC will issue an authorization for legitimate law enforcers who carry firearms on duty. Those who are not covered by this privilege of carrying firearms during the ban are required to file a request for an exemption at the COMELEC Committee on the Ban of Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP).
Photo credits to Wikimedia
However, the April 14 announcement did not signal the start of the campaign period. The campaign period will only begin on May 4.
