MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa went to Zamboanga City and Basilan province on Sunday to monitor the conduct of the first day of the implementation of the nationwide total gun ban as the election period for the May polls starts.

Verzosa said the PNP considers some parts of Mindanao as election areas of concern due to the many incidences of poll-related violence in the region.

"We consider Zamboanga peninsula as one of the areas of concern for elections. Since PNP is under the command now of the Comelec [Commission on Elections] we hope that the efforts exerted in this implementation will result to peaceful elections," said Verzosa.

Eight of 14 provinces tagged as election hotspots are in Mindanao. They are Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Surigao, Zamboanga Sibugay and Sarangani.

Verzosa went to Basilan to explain the gun ban regulations to soldiers and policemen who will man the checkpoints.

Some Basilan officials including Gov. Jum Akbar were asking for additional security.

Akbar, whose husband Basilan Rep. Congressman Wahab Akbar was killed in 2007, said she fears she may be the next target of their political enemies.

"Siyempre nangangamba rin. Alam niyo naman na namatay iyong asawa ko. Kaya nga kung puwede maintindihan kami ng mga authorities," said the lady governor.

The law states, however, that only 2 police escorts and 2 other security escorts are allowed to guard mayoralty and congressional candidates.

Checkpoints, part of the monitoring system in the implementation of the gun ban, have also been set up in Negros Occidental and Iloilo but authorities said, they only do "plain view search" for vehicles coming in and out of the province.

In General Santos City , a security agent was arrested for carrying a caliber .45 pistol.

In Metro Manila, 18 have been arrested in checkpoints on Sunday for alleged violation of the election gun ban.
The gun ban has been implemented to prevent violence during election period. About 3,500 checkpoints have been set up nationwide, 90 of which are here in Metro Manila, police said.

Comelec Resolution 8714 issued last December 17, 2009 bans all persons from carrying firearms and deadly weapons in public places including public buildings, streets, parks and private vehicles from January 10 to June 9, 2010.

Aside from regular firearms and deadly weapons, also covered by the ban are air guns and replications, as well as bladed instruments, hand grenades, and other explosives except for fireworks.

The resolution identifies those who may bear firearms, including the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, security personnel of the Philippine Ports Authority, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Bureau of Customs, Manila International Airport Authority and accredited security agencies.

This means private individuals, acting as bodyguards of politicians, are now not allowed to carry firearms.

Comelec said candidates for the 2010 elections would have to pick their security detail from law enforcement agencies or private security agencies accredited by the PNP. From a report of Dyborrhae Jewel M. Reyes, ABS-CBN Zamboanga and ANC