FEB.

13, 2012 DATE

NR # 2678
REF. NO.

House okays bill regulating firearms, light weapons & ammunition

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill regulating and penalizing the illegal manufacture of weapons and their parts and ammunition to eliminate the proliferation of loose firearms in the country. House Bill 5484, principally authored by Rep. Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), gives legal support to law enforcement agencies in their campaign against crime by regulating the ownership, possession, carrying, manufacture, importation and dealing of firearms, light weapons and ammunition or parts. Biazon said the measure will limit the ownership and possession of a firearm or firearms and ammunition to Filipino citizens upon compliance with the qualifications and requirements stipulated in Section 4, Article II of this proposed act. The bill provides that for a domestic corporation to be issued a regular license to own and posses firearms and ammunition, it should comply with the standards and requirements set for individuals, and provided in the Section 5, Article II of this act. All government-owned firearms should be registered with the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO), Philippine National Police (PNP) in the name of the government office or agency. The bill also provides that the chief of the PNP shall have the sole authority to issue licenses through the FEO, to qualified individuals. The chief PNP or his duly authorized representative may issue the permit to carry a firearm outside of residence to any qualified person. Under the bill, all light weapons should be legally acquired exclusively by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the PNP and other law enforcement agencies authorized by the President in the performance of their duties. The bill will also require a licensed citizen to register firearms with the designated firearms regulatory service of the PNP in accordance with the type of license the citizen possesses. An individual who wants to engage in manufacturing firearms, parts of firearms or ammunition, instruments or implements used in manufacturing firearms, parts of firearms or ammunition needs to apply for a license with the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). An individual who wants to engage in the trade of firearms and firearms parts and ammunition needs to apply with the chief of the PNP. Renewal of all types of licenses to possess firearms needs to be renewed every two years and the registration of firearms

FEB. 13, 2012 DATE

NR # 2678
REF. NO.

should be done every four years. Any person who violates this act shall be dealt with the following penalties; 12 years imprisonment for unlawful possession or acquisition of firearms by public officials or employee or member of the law enforcement agencies; 12 years to life imprisonment for the unlawful acquisition or possession of three or more firearms. Life imprisonment for the crime of unlawful acquisition or possession of light weapons; six years imprisonment for possession of ammunition for firearms or light weapons; six years imprisonment for unlawful acquisition or possession of armor-piercing ammunition, incendiary ammunition, and tracer ammunition including bullets containing high explosives not exceeding 20mm. Life imprisonment shall be meted to any person who engages or participates in arms smuggling. (30) sb