Police reminded to observe checkpoint rules
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is reminding the police to be courteous while conducting checkpoints when the election gun ban takes effect tomorrow.
Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec Cebu provincial election supervisor, said the checkpoints must not inconvenience to motorists.
“We would like to remind police to be courteous when conducting checkpoints,” he told reporters yesterday.
The election period will officially begin tomorrow, Jan. 10, as does the gun ban.
Only cashiers and disbursing officers may apply for a gun ban exemption from the Comelec.
During the period, lasting until June 8, other private gun owners are not allowed to bring firearms outside their homes.
Castillano said a team leader must brief policemen before the checkpoints are conducted.
Checkpoints, he added, must only be carried out in well-lighted areas.
He said checking must be limited to visual search with the aid of a flashlight, and no frisking is allowed.
“This should be the case except when police see unnatural reactions or anything suspicious from those being checked. Police may also go beyond visual search if they received prior confidential information,” said Castillano.
In the event of the need to question motorists, the Comelec official reminded policemen to limit them to two queries.
The local election officer should be notified of any untoward incident that may happen at the checkpoints, Castillano said.
Castillano said that the checkpoints are necessary during the gun ban.
“At least with checkpoints, we can help curb the proliferation of illegal firearms,” said Castillano.
He added that he hopes that with the checkpoints, there will be less gun-related incidents during the election period.
Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief of the Directorial Staff of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, said gun ban violators will be facing stiff penalty.
Lawas said more checkpoints will be conducted not only in Cebu City but in other places in the region as well.
Supt. Romeo Santander, chief of the intelligence branch of the Cebu City police, said police stations should conduct checkpoints day and night.
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