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Election Gun Ban In Effect In The Philippines & It Includes Airsoft Guns

OptimusPrime

It is election season again in the Philippines with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (Village and Youth Council) elections are finally proceeding after being postponed twice. And for the duration of the election period, which started last 14 April and will last until the 21 May a gun ban is put into place.

Election gun bans are in put into place in the Philippines to prevent any bloodshed during the period as the country is known for bloody election-related incidents.

Whilst airsoft guns are not considered as firearms as of 2013 with the signing of the Republic Act No. 10591, the Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC), can include airsoft guns in the election gun ban.  In COMELEC Resolution No. 10197 promulgated last 14 September 2017 covering these elections, it says in the Definition of Terms:

“o. Firearm, as defined in R. A. No. 10591, refers to any handheld or portable weapon, whether a small arm or light weapon, that expels or is designed to expel a bullet, shot, slug, missile or any projectile, which is discharged by means of expansive force of gases from burning gunpowder or other form of combustion or any similar instrument or implement, wherein the barrel, frame or receiver is considered a firearm. The term shall include airguns, airsoft guns, and replicas/imitations of firearms in whatever form that can cause an ordinary person to believe that they are real, including the parts thereof, as defined under pertinent laws. Imitation firearm, as defined under the same Act and as used herein, refers to a replica of a firearm, or other device that is so substantially similar in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to believe that such imitation firearm is a real firearm. The term shall include airsoft guns.” (Italics and underline ours)

That means no airsoft for over a month for airsoft in the Philippines. As the COMELEC is coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP), COMELEC checkpoints are put into place in accordance with Resolution No. 10198 that was also promulgated last 14 September 2017, airsoft players caught transporting airsoft guns whilst the gun ban is in effect shall suffer the penalty as provided for in Section 40 of Resolution No. 10197:

“Any person found guilty of any election offense described in this Resolution shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years and shall not be subject to probation. In addition, the guilty party shall be sentenced to suffer disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage. If he is a foreigner, he shall be sentenced to deportation which shall be enforced after the prison term has been served.” (Italics ours)

Previously, some game sites in the country allow airsoft players to have their airsoft guns and gear stored in order that they do not have to transport their airsoft guns in order to play during the gun ban. Game site owners will have to clarify with their local COMELEC officer if they can do this, but with the gun ban already in effect, it may be too late.

Airsoft players in the Philippine should take heed of the gun ban or face the consequences. It will be just several weeks so perhaps it’s time for some chairsofting or do other hobbies whilst waiting it out.

 

Photo source: Philippine National Police Facebook Page.

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