13TH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
.- - 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Child and Youth Welfare Code, Article 3 provides: 
(7) Every child has the right to Eull opportunities for safe and 
wholesome recreation and activities, . . . 
(8) Every child has the right to protection against ... improper 
influences, hazards, and other conditions or circumstances prejudicial to 
his physical, mental, emotional, social and moral development; 
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The parents or guardian of a person of tender age have the responsibility to ensure his 
safety, until he reaches the age of majority. 
Firearms are regulated by a system of monitoring and licensing. However, they have 
proliferated in homes and communities, making them easily accessible to a child. Considering 
that a child has no discernment, his safety depends entirely on the conduct of adults around him. 
This bill penalizes the act of making firearms accessible to a child, in order to prevent a 
child from injuring himself or others with a firearm. 


13TH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S I  . 
. I  .I .., .... : , , , 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
AN ACT TO PREVENT CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO FIREARMS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1, Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Child Firearm Access Prevention Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall protect and promote the interests of the 
child by providing him with a conducive and safe environment. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(a) "Secure gun storage or safety device" refers to a: 
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(1) A device that, when installed on a firearm, prevents the firearm from being operated without 
first deactivating or removing the device; 
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(2) A device incorporated into the design of the fireqm that prevents the operation of the firearm 
by anyone not having access to the device; or 


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(3) A safe, gun safe, gun case, lock box, or other device that is designed to be or can be used to 
store a firearm and that can be unlocked only by means of a key, a combination, other similar 
means. 
(b) "Minor" refers to a person who has not yet attained the age of eighteen (1 8) years. 
(c) "Director General" refers to the Director General of the Philippine National Police (PNP), or 
to the head of the appropriate body tasked with the monitoring and issuance of licenses for 
firearms. 
SECTION 4. Punishable Acts. - Except as provided in Section 5, any person who -- 
(a) Keeps a loaded firearm, or an unloaded firearm and amunition for the firearm, within any 
premise that is under the custody or control of that person; and 
(b) Knows, or reasonably should know, that a minor is capable of gaining access to the firearm 
without the permission of the parent or legal guardian of the minor, 
shall, if a minor obtains access to the firearm and thereby causes death or bodily injury to the 
minor or to any other person, or exhibits the firearm either in a public place, be imprisoned not 
more than 1 year, fined not more than P100,OOO or both. 
SECTION 5. Exceptions. - Section 3 does not apply in the following cases: 
(a) The person uses a secure gun storage or safety device for the firearm; 


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(b) The person is a peace officer, a member of the Armed Forces, or a member of the Philippine 
National Police, with the license to carry and keep the firearm, and the minor obtains the firearm 
during, or incidental to, the performance of the official duties of the person in that capacity; 
(c) The minor obtain, or obtains and discharges, the firearms in a lawful act of self-defense of 
one (1) or more other person; or 
(d) The person has no reasonable expectation, based on objective facts and circumstances, that a 
minor is likely to be presented on the premises on which the firearm is kept. 
SECTION 6. The Director General shall ensure that a copy of this Act appears on the form 
required to be obtained by a licensed dealer from a prospective transferee of a firearm. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter 
of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5 )  days after its pu 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
with the 
dication 
Approved.