14th Congress of the Republic ) 
of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to prohibit any person to carry firearms, even if 
licensed, outside the confines of his private domain, in the absence of a 
valid permit to carry firearms. 
It is sad to note that most of the accidents that happened and 
crimes perpetrated were through the use of firearms. I n  fact, gun-slayings 
are prevalent among reported cases of provocation, traffic altercation, 
gambling dispute and other occasions of scuffle. Given this grim scenario, 
there is an imperative need to limit the circumstances under which an 
individual may be permitted to carry a firearm in public. 
This legislative measure is in response to the constitutional mandate 
that "the maintenance of peace and order, protection of life, liberty and 
property and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the 
enjoyment by all people of the blessing of democracy" (Article 11, Sec. 5) 
The passage of the bill is therefore, most earnestly requested. 
AQUYLINO Q. PIMENTEL, 
JR. 


14'h Congress of the Republic ) 
of the Philippines 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. - 
278 
Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. 
AN ACT 
TO REGULATE THE CARRYING OF FIREARMS, PROVIDE 
PURPOSES 
PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATION AND FOR OTHER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the 
"Firearms Regulation Act of 2007". 
SECTION 
2. 
Declaration of Policy. 
- Pursuant to the 
Constitutional declaration that the primordial duty to maintain peace and 
order, protect life, liberty and property, and promote general welfare rests 
upon the State, it is hereby declared as policy of the State that the 
carrying of firearms shall be authorized only for those directly and 
primarily engaged in military, police and law enforcement functions, and 
for those specifically authorized under this Act. 
SECTION 3. Firearms. -- For purposes of this Act, the term 
"firearms" shall refer to any and all weapons, instruments, devices or 
materials such as, but not limited to, rifles, revolvers, muskets, carbines, 
shotguns, and all other similar devices from which a bullet, ball shotshell 
and other missiles or projectiles may be discharged by means of 
gunpowder or other propellant: Provided, That the barrel of any firearm 
shall be considered as a complete firearm. 
SECTION 4. Prohibited Carrying of Firearms. - I n  the absence of 
a valid permit to carry firearms, it shall be unlawful for any person to carry 
the same, even if licensed, anywhere outside his camp, station, residence, 
or sports facility. 
SECTION 5. Permit to Carry. - No permit to carry firearms shall 
a. a regular member or officer of the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP); 
b. a regular agent or officer of the National Bureau of Investigation 
(NBI), the Criminal Investigation Service (CIS), the Narcotics 
Command (NARCOM), 
the Intelligence Service of the AFP 
(ISAFP), the Sheriff's Offices of the various courts, and other law 
be issued to any person whosoever, except: 


enforcement agencies created pursuant to law or executive 
or#er; and 
c. a regular agent or personnel of a duly licensed private security 
agency or the security forces of government agencies or 
government-owned or controlled corporations, and only under 
the conditions prescribed in the succeeding and related 
provisions of this Act. 
Provided, however, That no permit to carry shall be issued to any 
temporary or conditional agents or informers of the military, police or any 
law enforcement agency. 
SECTION 6. Condition For Permit. -- Any holder of a permit for a 
firearm, issued pursuant to Section 5 of this Act, shall carry the firearm 
covered by or pertaining to the said permit only when he/she is in the 
actual performance of an official duty and /or assignment directly related 
to or in connection with his/her employment, including while he/she is 
commuting directly to and from his work station or place of assignment 
with no unauthorized side trips and while pursuing a person committing a 
crime or who has just committed a crime in his presence. 
A regular member and officer of the AFP, the PNP or such other law 
enforcement agencies shall be presumed to be engaged in the actual 
performance of his or her duty, assignment, or responsibility whenever or 
wherever he or she is in the full uniform of his or her position or rank in 
the said services or agencies. No such presumption shall exist, however, in 
all cases when he/she is charged with any crime or offense other than the 
violation of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Security Agents and Public Officials. - It shall be 
unlawful for any public official of whatever rank or position, whether 
elective or appointive, to employ, avail of, or engage the services of 
security personnel who are not regular enlisted men and women or 
commissioned officers of the AFP or the PNP. Any such public official who 
may have need to employ, engage or secure such security personnel, shall 
apply for the 
same with the unit of office of the AFP or 'the PNP 
specifically established for this purpose; Provided, however, That such 
designated unit or office of the military or police establishments shall 
approve or grant such applications only in accordance with the rules and 
regulations promulgated jointly by the Department of National Defense 
(DND) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
Provided, further, That all members or officers of the AFP or the PNP 
assigned to such security duties pursuant to this Section shall do so only 
while properly attired or in the full uniform of their service units thereat. 
SECTION 8. Sports Equipment. - No permit to carry firearms 
shall be issued to any person as a tool or equipment of any sport, game, 
sporting event or competition, or sports-related activity unless the 
applicant for the same: 


a. 
is a regular member in good standing of a duly licensed or 
government accredited gun or shooting club, association, or 
society (hereinafter called sports facility); 
b. 
first executes and files a verified undertaking to keep and 
maintain the firearm covered by the permit only in his or her 
residence, office or sports facility of which he or she is a 
member for its safekeeping. 
A permit issued under this Section shall not authorize its 
holder to carry the firearm, covered by or pertaining to the 
said permit, in any other public place nor to transport or 
otherwise convey the same to and from his or her residence, 
office or sports facility unless it is unloaded or deactivated and 
kept in the locked trunk or locked storage compartment of any 
motor vehicle. 
SECTION 9. Smuggled And Illegal Deadly Weapons. - No permit 
to possess or carry shall be issued for any firearm which has been 
confiscated by any proper authority or agency of the Government as an 
instrument of which has been forfeited in favor of the Government as an 
instrument of any crime or prohibited act. All confiscated, forfeited, 
smuggled or illegally acquired firearms shall, within fifteen (15) days of 
such confiscation, forfeiture, or seizure, be publicly destroyed in the 
presence of the media and concerned non-governmental organizations, 
except as follows: 
a. any such firearm which is required in any hearing shall be 
securely retained until after the finale disposition of any 
proceeding related to such hearing; or 
b. any such firearm which is proven to be a recovery of a firearm 
previously stolen, or otherwise unlawfully taken from a holder of 
a permit to possess or carry or from a military, police or law 
enforcement officer described in Section 5 hereof. 
SECTION 
10. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The 
Department of Interior and Local Government shall, within thirty (30) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, jointly prescribe and promulgate the rules 
and regulations for the uniform implementation of the provisions of this 
Act. 
SECTION 
11. Penalty. - Any violation of this Act shall be 
punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day 
but not more than ten (10) years and a fine of not less than Pesos Twenty 
Thousand (P20,OOO.OO) nor more that Pesos One Hundred Thousand 
(P100,000.00). 
SECTION 12. Violation by Public Official. -- I n  addition to the 
penalty prescribed in Section 11 of this Act, the penalty of perpetual and 
absolute disqualification from any public office, elective or appointive, or 
dishonorable discharge from the military or police service, as the case may 
be and forfeiture of all retirement privileges and benefits, shall be imposed 
on the violator if he or she is a public official, whether in civilian, military, 
police or law enforcement service. 


SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any section 
or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, other sections or 
provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and effective. 
SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. -- This Act shall take effect after 
fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,