The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will set up checkpoints on Saturday, 11 January, in preparation for the 2025 elections.

In a press conference in Makati, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the checkpoints will coincide with the gun ban.

“So far so good naman kami dito sa aming paghahanda, wala kaming nakikitang major roadblocks (Our preparations are so far so good and we’re not seeing any major roadblocks),” he noted.

“Hindi lang naman baril o deadly weapons and pakay namin. Gusto namin i-establish na ganito pa lang kaaga, gusto na namin ayusin yung mga problema sa lugar niyo (We’re not just simply checking guns or other deadly weapons. We need to establish that as early as now, we need to fix the problems in your area),” he explained.

He added that the checkpoints will also help with the assessment of the peace and order situation ahead of the midterm polls.

Garcia also stressed that the checkpoints must ensure the constitutional rights of Filipinos and must be limited only to “plain view.”

“Hindi pwede magpapabukas ng ganito, hindi pwede magpapababa ng tao, hindi pwede magpa-open ng kung ano (They can’t make you open your vehicle, they can’t make you step outside or vehicle or open something from your vehicle),” the Comelec chief said.

“They should be limited only to plain view and we will definitely insist that the same procedure and guidelines will be observed by the authorities,” he added.

Garcia said that the poll body will also meet with the Philippine National Police on Thursday, 9 January, to discuss the list of areas of concern.

The election period will begin on 11 January and will end on 12 June.