The Philippines has something American gun control activists can only dream about: an outright ban on the carrying of firearms during the campaign season. Starting on January and until June 11, it's a criminal offense in the country to carry a gun outside of your home or place of business; a move ostensibly put in place to reduce election-related violence.
Since the ban took effect a little more than a month ago, nearly 1,000 people have been arrested, according to the Philippine National Police. The national police have conducted 254,355 checks of citizens during that same time, and in addition to arresting those caught carrying a gun, law enforcement is also encouraging gun owners to "surrender" any firearms they possess if they've let their registration lapse.
In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil underscored the police force’s dedication to ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process.
"The numbers speak for themselves. Our intensified operations are in full force and we will not let up. The PNP remains committed to safeguarding the electoral process by strictly enforcing the gun ban, neutralizing criminal activities and preventing any attempts to disrupt the elections,” Marbil said.
He called on the public to cooperate, stay vigilant and report suspicious activities that may threaten the peace and integrity of the May 12 midterm elections.
He said the PNP remains strictly apolitical, ensuring that no member of the force engages in any partisan activities during the election period.
Yeah, the numbers speak for themselves, but not in a good way. As a columnist for the Inquirer newspaper recently pointed out, criminals appear to be having a grand old time during the carry ban.
Despite the Commission on Elections’ imposition of a gun ban, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and neighboring areas continue to witness a disturbingly consistent rate of violent incidents, including murder. This alarming reality raises critical questions about the effectiveness of the gun ban and highlights the need for a deeper, more holistic approach to tackling violence in the region.
The gun ban, meant to create a secure environment for the upcoming elections, has proven ineffective in curbing criminal activity. The continued occurrence of these violent incidents reveals a deeper systemic issue, highlighting the need to address the root causes of violence in the region rather than solely relying on a temporary measure like a gun ban. The failure of the gun ban points to a complex interplay of factors that contribute to the ongoing violence.
Despite that, the author still describes the Philippine carry ban as "a necessary measure to ensure a safe and peaceful election environment".
While it's true that elections in the Philippines have often been marred by violence, even at the local level, prohibiting individuals from lawfully carrying in self-defense only puts people at risk of harm. Last year at least four people were killed in election-related violence during the election season, and while it is theoretically possible to win an exemption from the carry ban, in reality most of the population is legally prohibited from bearing arms in self-defense for the next four months.
As writer Ferdinandh Cabrera bemoaned in a column on Monday, "the killings haven’t stopped. Not in the streets. Not in the remote villages. Not even with an intensified gun ban across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao."
Since the start of the year, at least 85 shooting incidents have been recorded by the regional office of the Philippine National Police, and the bloodshed shows no sign of slowing. January alone saw 53 attacks. By mid-February, the tally had already climbed to 32.
The latest burst of violence came Monday morning, February 17, at 9:40 am, when gunmen ambushed a mini-van in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur. Among the casualties was a woman, her name yet to be released.
... The violence is relentless. The election gun ban is in place, but the bullets keep flying. Less than 24 hours earlier, on Sunday afternoon, February 16, a group of gunmen armed with M-16 rifles ambushed and killed Cotabato City-based motorcycle enthusiast Boyet Lu.
Lu had been riding the trails of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte – a passion turned fatal.
Days earlier, on Thursday morning, February 13, another brazen attack targeted local Liga ng mga Barangay chairman and Datu Abdullah Sangki town councilor Edris Sangki. Gunmen opened fire, killing Sangki and injuring his barangay secretary and another barangay councilman. He had been the village chief of Kaya-kaya.
... Maguindanao Governor Mariam Sangki Mangudadatu said some of the attacks targeted people associated with her group.
“These are a direct threat to the ongoing peace efforts in the province, and a threat to expressing support for their leaders, a proof of the lack of respect for life, democracy, and human rights,” she said.
We could say the same thing about the carry ban itself. Self-defense is a human right, and it's woefully evident that the Philippine government is depriving people of their ability to defend themselves even while it's proven itself unable to protect its citizens from election-related violence. The ban might have been put in place in the name of democracy and respect for life, but it's having a chilling effect on lawful citizens... and doesn't appear to be making an impact at all on those intent on causing physical harm to their political opponents.
