MANILA, Philippines - The election period formally began Sunday and will last for five months until June 9.

A gun ban is now also in effect and over 40 people have already been arrested for violating the directive.

A total of 47 violators were arrested on the first day of nationwide gun ban.

Around 50,000 policemen have been deployed to man more than 3,000 checkpoints all over the country.
  
Until June, only law enforcers and security detail duly authorized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be allowed to carry firearms. Plain-clothes policemen and soldiers are not exempted from the gun ban.

"Basta nakasibilyan, basta may baril kailangan hulihin, kahit may mission order," said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Roberto Rosales.

The Commission on Human Rights has vowed to monitor the checkpoints to ensure the rights of motorists are respected.

The Philippine National Police also gave an assurance that they will respect human rights.

"We'd like to assure the public we'll observe human rights provisions in the conduct of checks, complaints can be channeled to the nearest police precinct," said PNP spokesman Leonardo Espina.

PNP chief Jesus Verzosa said any policemen caught abusing the checkpoints will be sacked.

Hot spot: Mindanao

Verzosa was in Zamboanga city to monitor the conduct of the first day of the nationwide total gun ban.

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

"We consider Zamboanga Peninsula as one of the areas of concern for elections. Since the PNP is under the command now of the Comelec, we hope that the efforts exerted in this implementation will result to peaceful elections." he said.

After visiting Zamboanga city, Verzosa went to Basilan to explain the gun ban regulations to soldiers and policemen who will man the checkpoints.

Some Basilan officials including Governor Jum Akbar are asking for additional security.

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

"Siyempre nangangamba rin alam niyo naman na namatay yung asawa ko. Kaya nga kung puwede maintindihan kami ng mga authorities," Akbar said.

The law, however, states only 2 PNP escorts and 2 private escorts are allowed to guard mayoralty and congressional candidates.

Check points have been set up in Negros Occidental and Iloilo, and authorities say 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. -- reports from Jewel Reyes, ABS-CBN News; Monica Magpantay, ANC