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NewsTranscript
00:00The election period has started. Gun bans and other measures to ensure security in other parts of the country have also become viral.
00:16In preparation for the election of 2025, we will talk to the Commonwealth Chairman, George Garcia. Chairman, good morning.
00:25Good morning, Egan and good morning to our countrymen.
00:29Aside from the checkpoints, what other measures are being taken now that the election period has started?
00:34Of course, Egan. Aside from that, we are still accepting applications for exemptions from the gun ban.
00:40At the same time, we are also implementing the ban on appointing, promoting, suspending and transferring to the government without exemption from the Commission of Elections.
00:51But our countrymen should know that the Ombudsman's office is not included in this prohibition and therefore, the Ombudsman does not need to obtain an exemption from the Commission of Elections.
01:03How many people have been arrested for violating the gun ban? They said they don't know.
01:12There are six already, Egan. There are in Malasiki, Iloilo, Intarizal. There are also in Maguindanao.
01:20Their arguments that they don't know, we are repeatedly calling on them. At the same time, we are saying that all their licenses permit to carry suspended when January 12 comes.
01:33For our viewers, what are the guidelines for the gun ban? Can they obtain an exemption or should everything be covered?
01:42Everything should be covered, but the law and the resolution of the Comelec provide certain exemptions.
01:51For example, the members of the Supreme Court, judges, prosecutors, PAO, secretaries or secretaries of the agency of investigation, USEC, ASEC.
02:03We also have some individuals who are given an exemption, especially those who have a high threat in their lives because of their business or because of their performance in their work.
02:15So they should be shown an exemption in their charges.
02:20That's right Egan. So those who were arrested since yesterday, they showed their license and permit to carry. There's no exemption from the Comelec.
02:29So just the same, they will be arrested and their arms will be confiscated.
02:35In the checkpoint, it's only visual. Our motorists cannot open the trunk or let it out, Chairman.
02:43You're right Egan. Our people of PNP and AFP can only do a visual search if there's an AFP with the Bureau of Fire Protection or Philippine Coast Guard.
02:53Even though, no one can stop the motorist to voluntarily open or let the trunk or trunk of the vehicle open.
03:04That's just to make sure that no one is hiding or doing anything bad.
03:10What's the difference, Chairman, between the checkpoints in the red, orange and yellow categories compared to the green category?
03:17In the green category, the area is generally peaceful. There's no incident of violence, even in the past elections.
03:24In the red category, most recently, there may have been violence, although this is not election-related.
03:31But in the past elections, there's always violence that is election-related.
03:36In the orange category, we are more or less monitoring the possibility of violence in the red category.
03:43In the yellow category, there's only one incident of violence.
03:46Those categorizations, red, orange, yellow and green, should be addressed to us, to the PNP and AFP, not to the residents.
03:56That's why you should not be afraid of places if you are in the red category.
04:00It just means that we want to preposition the forces of law enforcement authorities and faster action or reaction if there's a disturbance.
04:10When will the gunman and the checkpoints last?
04:15The gunman will last. It started yesterday and it's 120 days before the election.
04:22It's already there and it will last for 30 days after the election.
04:26Okay. We have a warning regarding text spoofing that can be used in the campaign.
04:35What will the Commonwealth do about this?
04:38We are the ones who are prioritizing the National Telecommunication Commission.
04:42In fact, we will add an agreement because the capacity of the Commission on Elections is very limited.
04:50We will need other agencies of the government because we should fight these text blasting
04:56because a candidate can send a text message even if he's not the one.
05:02As of now, what is the percentage of our readiness, Chairman?
05:06Ninety percent. The printing of our balotas is ongoing.
05:10Next month, on the first week of February, we will start our training of teachers who will serve on the election day,
05:19including the PNP personnel contingency if the teachers we trained on the election day will not be able to serve.
05:28Are these the candidates who have a big billboard and often radio and TV ads?
05:34Can we not sue them for early campaigning?
05:36There's no premature campaigning as of now.
05:39Their candidacy will start on February 11 in the national positions and March 28 in the local positions.
05:47Therefore, technically, they are aspirants and not candidates even if the so-called election period has already started.
05:55But it's unfair to those who don't have money.
05:57Can't they file a COC, Chairman?
05:59They are already prohibited as candidates. The intention is already there.
06:04That's what I want. It's unfair because the purpose should be equal opportunity for all.
06:12That's why our law should be equal opportunity for all.
06:14We all need to come together and we need to pursue a change in the law.
06:18The COMELEC is just an implementer of the laws in our memory.
06:23So these radio and TV ads cannot be considered as part of the law that they should be allowed to broadcast?
06:32That's right. Of course, their expenses from October, November, December, January until February 10,
06:39should not be reported to the COMELEC because at that time, they are not yet candidates.
06:44Okay. Some are going to the Supreme Court to appeal to the nuisance candidates you declared.
06:50What is the reaction to this, Chairman?
06:53Are you just waiting for the Supreme Court to call our members to the commission?
06:58Of course, we recognize the rights of those who lost or were not included in our decisions.
07:05However, the COMELEC cannot stop our preparations, even the imprinting of balotas.
07:09That's why we will wait for the development of that.
07:13As of Friday, we have not received any action or restraining order from the Supreme Court.
07:20That's why we are doing everything continuously.
07:23So the imprinting of balotas, if someone is not included, it cannot be returned?
07:29I cannot answer that question because I don't want to put pressure on our Supreme Court
07:35because they might say that the imprinting of balotas can be used.
07:38The important thing is, if we do not respect the exercise of jurisdiction of the Supreme Court,
07:44we will comply with whatever order is given to us.
07:47How can the balota be imprinted, Chairman?
07:51There are so many ways of skinning a cat.
07:56The important thing is, we are still in Bangsamoro, Balots.
08:00What the COMELEC is doing is, the places that are far away are the places that we prioritize in the imprinting of balotas.
08:07Okay. Thank you very much Comelec Chairman George Garcia. Be careful Chairman.
08:12Thank you very much Igan. Long live.
08:25Thank you very much.