The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) have taken a number of steps to guarantee a secure and orderly election process in advance of the May 12, 2025 national and municipal elections.
The election gun ban began when Comelec and PRO-7 set up checkpoints simultaneously throughout Cebu City. The purpose of these checkpoints is to keep an eye on and enforce adherence to the ban, which forbids unauthorized persons from carrying firearms during the election season. While on official duty, only members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and other law enforcement organizations are allowed to carry guns.
An extra 200 police personnel have been sent to Negros Oriental by PRO-7 in recognition of the necessity for increased security in some regions where election-related violence has occurred in the past.
This contingent is made up of 100 officers from the Provincial Mobile Force Company who are earmarked for humanitarian and evacuation operations; and 100 personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Company, who are in charge of setting up anti-criminality checkpoints.
As the 2025 elections are drawing near, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), has intensified security measures through the implementation of election checkpoints across Central Visayas. These checkpoints are to ensure a peaceful and orderly electoral process by preventing the transport of illegal firearms, explosives, and other prohibited items that could be used for election-related violence.
The Regional Director of PRO7, PBGen Redrico A. Maranan, stated that with the combined efforts of COMELEC, PNP, AFP, and local government units, the 2025 elections in Central Visayas are expected to be conducted in an atmosphere of SAPE (Safe-Accurate-Peaceful and Honest Election). He also encouraged PRO 7 personnel to remain apolitical. The establishment of checkpoints is just one of the many steps taken to safeguard the electoral process and uphold democracy in the country.
As election day approaches, authorities continue to call on the public to remain law-abiding and support efforts to maintain peace and order. Since the implementation of the gun ban, PRO-7 has seized 35 firearms across Central Visayas. Maranan continuously reminds that a secure and peaceful election is a shared responsibility requiring the active participation of every Filipino.
