It’s that time when firearms enthusiasts and airsoft players in the Philippines dread most: the temporary election gun ban as the country gears up for the 2013 local elections. It's also that period where a spike in gun violence is experienced as politicians and their people get assassinated and private armies roam with impunity in the countryside. From January to May 2013, a gun ban is  in place and the Philippine National Police and other deputized organizations by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) are conducting checkpoints to confiscate firearms and arrest persons carrying these with the exemption of those who have been granted the privilege to bear weapons due to threats to their lives.

When we were there in the Philippines, there were already dry runs of these checkpoints before they took effect and our experience have been so far good as the police personnel were polite and courteous and guidelines to checkpoints were followed carefully. Though we noticed that people riding in motorcycles and scooters get a more intense scrutiny as fast, two-wheeled vehicles are the preferred get-away vehicles by assassins and robbers due to the strangling traffic in major cities in the country.

The election gun ban also had an untoward effect towards the growth of airsoft since these resemble real firearms, they are covered by the ban. Whereas the Philippines has been one of the bright spots of airsoft in the world, the election gun ban has caused some dwindling in the number of airsoft players, especially among the veterans. With the 5-month lull in airsoft during the gun ban, they take up other hobbies or sports, with the craze right now being cycling and running. I can say this because I've experienced this first hand. The team that we usually play with whilst there, the Hammerheads, whilst maintaining their name, have taken up both activities and rarely venture into airsoft games.

Airsoft players can still play airsoft at skirmish sites during the gun ban provided that they leave their airsoft guns at the skirmish sites so they don’t need to transport these and get caught at checkpoints. Whilst this is a very good idea, there is a problem regarding to skirmish sites --- established and long running sites are rare with most airsoft skirmish sites being like pop-up stores: now you see them, now you don't.

So with the reduction of airsoft players in  the Philippines it is too premature to say that airsoft is in decline in the country, it is still the most stable in Southeast Asia and has one of the oldest airsoft communities in the world. It is still the most lively given that there is a gun culture in  the country though not as pronounced like in the US. The Philippines is still the centre for firearms competitions as most countries in the region have very strict firearms laws and the Philippines has the most liberal, or to rephrase it, it is lax in implementing rules, if compared to her neighbours.

It will be another 5 months for airsoft players in the country to be able to fully play again and we don't know what new hobby they'll take up during this time and we notice that expensive remote controlled toys are now getting their attention as these cost almost the same as ACM guns as most are being manufactured in China. It is just unfortunate that power hungry, corrupt, and greedy politicians have caused this and we just hope that this will change for the better as the Philippines is the one of the fastest developing countries in the world right now and we cross our fingers that their political culture changes as fast for the better.

In case you're in the country, and you encounter a checkpoint, here are the guidelines so you won't have trouble with the police or how to file a complaint in case those manning the checkpoint do not follow the guidelines:

1. Checkpoint must be well - lighted,properly identified and manned by uniformed personnel.
2. Upon approach, slow down,dim headlights and turn on cabin lights.
3. Never step out of the vehicle.
4. Lock all doors of vehicles during inspection since only visual search is allowed
5. Never submit to physical and body search.
6. Motorists are not required to open glove compartment trunk or bags.
7. Be courteous but firm in answering, assert your rights, have presence of mind and do not panic.
8. Keep your drivers license and car registration handy.
9. Be ready to use your mobile phones at any time, speed dial emergency numbes.
10. Report violations immediately