Prior to the safety and preparation for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) began the implementation of gun ban on August 28, Monday.

In an interview with another media outlet, Comelec Region 6 Election Director lawyer Dennis Ausan said that the "effectivity of all licensed firearms registration and Permit to Carry Outside Residence are suspended unless an exception is secured from the Commission."

This is in line with COMELEC's Resolution No. 10918, promulgated on May 17, 2023, which prescribes the rules and regulations on the ban on the bearing, carrying, or transporting of firearms or deadly weapons and employment, availment or engagement of the services of security personnel or bodyguards during the election period.

"We will be doing the checkpoint in the first hour of the election period, but we leave to the PNP the rest and succeeding checkpoints as to when to schedule and where to conduct it," Ausan emphasized.

Meanwhile, the convening of the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) on August 22 in Iloilo City will also be led by the COMELEC regional office to discuss security preparations and plans for the polls.

"After which, the JSCC at the provincial, city, and municipal levels will also convene before the official start of the election period on August 28," he added.

As per COMELEC, the campaign period will be from October 19 to 28, while the election day will be held on October 30.

"Barangay election has its own peculiarities and is highly emotional because of the area and the candidates coming from the same community," Ausan noted.

He added that intense political rivalry, as a parameter for Election Watchlist Areas, will be determined after the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy.

"We will meet RJSCC to finalize the security plans after the filing of COC because, by then, we should know who are the candidates running for the barangay and SK positions," he said.