EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S.B,
SENATE 
No. 1937
2020 m
DATE
TU.IE
Noex
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT PROHIBITING UNTRACEABLE FIREARMS, PROVIDING PENALTIES 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Art. II, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, " The maintenance of 
peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the 
general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of 
democracy."
The proliferation of loose or unregistered firearms have been the major concern 
of law enforcement agencies for decades and statistics show that more than 90 percent 
(90%) of all crime incidents involved the use of loose or unregistered firearms. In the 
recent years, law enforcement agencies in many parts of the world have voiced their 
concerns on the existence of ghost guns. Ghost Guns refer to firearms, including frames 
or receivers, which lack serial numbers engraved on the frames or receivers by a 
licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer, including those made through three- 
dimensional (3D) printing machines.
These undetectable and untraceable firearms are illegal. The United Nations on 
Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reported that with the advent of 3D printing, illegal 
software produced individual 3D printed firearms that looked rather unlike weapons on 
the legal market and pose a grave threat to public safety.
With the advent of three-dimensional (3D) printing, 3D printed firearms have 
become an emerging source of illicit firearms. The said 3D printed firearms or ghost 
guns are untraceable and are mostly or entirely made of materials undetectable by 
traditional security scanning systems. Thus, the State should act immediately in putting 
a stop to the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking of firearms, their parts, components 
and ammunitions that pose a major threat to the security and welfare of the people.


Thus, this bill seeks to penalize the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, 
purchase, import, acquire, possess, or receive a ghost gun or parts thereof, machinery, 
tool or instrument, including 3D printing machines used or intended to be used in the 
manufacture of ghost guns or parts thereof, among others, to put a stop and prevent 
the threat such firearm/s poses.
Given the abovementioned circumstances, the immediate passage of this 
earnestly sought.
IS
E R. MARCOS


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session )
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1937
R
T H.iE
NDbX
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT PROHIBITING UNTRACEABLE FIREARMS, PROVIDING PENALTIES 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Untraceabie 
Firearms Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall maintain peace and order and 
protect the people against vioience. For decades, the proiiferation of loose or 
unregistered firearms have been the major concern of law enforcement agencies and 
statistics show that more than 90 percent (90%) of crimes involve the use of such 
firearms.
With the advent of three-dimensionai (3D) printing, 3D printed firearms have 
become an emerging source of iiiicit firearms. The said 3D printed firearms or ghost 
guns are untraceabie and are mostiy or entireiy made of materials undetectable by 
traditional security scanning systems. Thus, the State shouid act immediateiy in putting
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a stop to the iiiicit manufacturing of and trafficking of firearms, their parts, components
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and ammunitions that pose a major threat to the security and welfare of the people.
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - The following shall be defined in this Act, as
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follows:
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(a)" A ccessories ''s h a 11 refer to parts of a firearm which may enhance or increase
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the operational efficiency or accuracy of a firearm but not constitute any of the major
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or minor internal parts thereof such as, but not limited to, laser scope, telescopic sight
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and sound suppressor or silencer;
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(b) 'l'Ammunition"refer to a complete unfixed unit consisting of a bullet,
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gun powder, cartridge case, and primer or loaded shell for use In any firearm;
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(c)"Detectabie MatenaT shall refer to any material that creates a magnetic field
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equivalent to more than 3.7 ounces of 17-4 PH stainless steel;
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(d) "Fireamf shall refer to any handheld or portable weapon, whether small arm
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or light weapon, that expels or is designed to expel a bullet, shot, slug, missile or any
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projectile, which is discharged by means of expansive gases from burning gunpowder
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or other form of combustion or any simiiar instrument or implement. For purposes of
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this Act, the barrel, frame or receiver, inciuding an unfinished frame or receiver, any
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firearm muffler or firearm siiencer, or any combination of parts designed or intended
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for use in converting any device into a firearm and from which a firearm may be readiiy
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assembled, is considered a firearm. Provided that, such term does not include "antique
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firearm^')
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(e) "Firearms tracing' shall refer to the systematic tracking of the movement of
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firearms recovered by law enforcement officials from the first sale of a firearm by the
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manufacturer or importer through the distribution chain, including whoiesaler and
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retaiier, to the first purchaser;
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(f) "Frame or Receivef shail refer to the part of the firearm that can provide the
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action or housing for the hammer, boit, or breechbiock and firing mechanism. It aiso
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includes a frame or lower receiver biank, casting, or machined body that requires
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further machining or moiding to be used as part of a functional firearm, and which is
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designed and intended to be used in the assembly of a functional firearm. Provided
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that, it does not include a piece of material that has had "its size or extemai shape


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altered solely to facilitate transportation and storagd' or "solely Its chemical
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composition altered";
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(g) "Ghost Gund' shall refer to a firearm, including a frame or receiver, that lacks
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a serial number engraved or cast in the metal or metal alloy on the frame or receiver
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by a licensed manufacturer or importer in accordance with this Act and shall include
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3D printed guns, as defined in Sec. 3 (o) of this Act. Provided that, it does not include
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a firearm that has been rendered permanently Inoperable.
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(h) "Firearms Trafficking" shd\\ refer to the diversion of firearms from lawful
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commerce into the illegal market;
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(i) "Ghost Gun Smuggling' shall refer to the import, export, acquisition, sale,
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delivery, movement or transfer of ghost guns, their parts, and components from or
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across the territory of the country to another country which has not been authorized,
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in accordance with domestic laws, rules or regulations in either or both countries;
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(j)"Licensed Manufactured refers to any person, including any corporation or
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other legal entity, with license issued by the Secretary of the Interior and Local
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Government, engaged in the business of manufacturing firearms and ammunition for
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purposes of sale or distribution;
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(k) "Licensed Imported shall refer to any person, legal entity, corporation, or
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partnership duly licensed by the Philippine National Police Rrearms and Explosives
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Office to engage in the business of importing ammunition and firearms, or parts thereof
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into the territory of the Republic of the Philippines for purposes of sale or distribution
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under the provisions R.A. No. 10591 otherwise known as the "Comprehensive Firearms
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and Ammunition Regulation Act";
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(I) "Loose Fireamf shall mean an unregistered firearm, an obliterated or altered
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firearm, firearm which has been lost or stolen, illegally manufactured firearms,
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registered firearms in the possession of an individual other than the licensee and those
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with revoked licenses in accordance with the existing laws, rules, and regulations;
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(m) "Major Parts or Components of a Ghost Gurf shall refer to the barrel, slide,
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frame, receiver, cylinder, or bolt assembly. The term also Includes any part or kit


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designed and intended for use in converting a semi-automatic burst to a full automatic
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firearm;
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(n) "Minor Parts or Components of a Ghost Gun" shaW refer to the parts of the
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firearm other than the major parts which are necessary to effect and complete the
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action of expelling a projectile by way of combustion, except those classified as
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accessories; and
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(o) "3D Printed Git//75"shall refer to do-it-yourself guns made by using computer-
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aided designs and 3D printers which do not have serial numbers and are mostly
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undetectable and untraceable.
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SEC. 4. Requirements. - Licensed importers and licensed manufacturers shall
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identify by means of a serial number engraved or cast on the receiver or frame of the
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weapon, in such manner as the Philippine National Police (PNP) shall by regulations
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prescribe, on each firearm imported or manufactured.
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The serial number shall be engraved or cast in metal or metal alloy and sufficient
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to identify the firearm and the manufacturer or importer of the firearm. Thereafter,
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such importer or manufacturer, including dealers, shall maintain such records of
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importation, production, shipment, receipt, sale, or other disposition of firearms at his
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or her place of business for such period, and in such form, as the PNP may by
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regulations prescribe.
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SEC. 5. Prohibited Acts. - The following acts shall be prohibited:
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(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer,
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purchase, import, acquire, possess, or receive a ghost gun or parts thereof, machinery,
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tool or instrument, including 3D printing machines used or intended to be used in the
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manufacture of ghost guns or parts thereof;
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(b) It shall be unlawful for a person other than a licensed manufacturer,
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importer, or dealer to engrave or cast a serial number on a firearm in or affecting
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domestic or foreign commerce;


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(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage or participate in ghost gun
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smuggiing;
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(d) It shail be uniawfui for any person to willfuliy and/or maiiciousiy insert, place,
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or attach, directly or indirectly, any ghost gun, or ammunition, or parts thereof in the
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person, house, effects, or in the immediate vicinity of another person for the purpose
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of implicating or incriminating said person; and
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(e) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess a digital blueprint for the
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manufacture of a firearm on 3D printing machines.
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SEC. 6. Penalties. - Any person found guilty of any of the Prohibited Acts, as
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mentioned in Sec. 5, shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor to reclusion
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temporal or a fine of one million pesos (P 1,000,000.00) to three million pesos (P
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3,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. Provided that, the penalty of
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reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon any person who shall, unlawfully acquire or
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possess a Class-B light weapon, as may be defined in R.A. No. 10591 otherwise known
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as the n Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act," and the penalty of
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reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua shall be imposed if three (3) or more small
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arms or Class-A light weapons are unlawfully acquired or possessed by any person, as
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may be defined in R.A. No. 10591. Provided, further. That if the act is committed by a
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corporation, partnership, association or other juridical entity, the penalty provided for
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in this Section shall be imposed upon the directors, officers, employees or other officials
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or persons therein who knowingly and willingly participated in the unlawful act.
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Provided, finally. That the possession of any machinery, tool or instrument, including
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3D printing machines with blueprints used directly in the manufacture of ghost gun, or
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major parts thereof by any person whose business, employment or activity does not
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lawfully deal with the possession of such article, shall be prima facie evidence that such
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article is intended to be used in the unlawful or illegal manufacture of ghost guns or
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parts thereof.


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The imposition of penaity for any vioiation of this Act shall carry with it the 
confiscation and forfeiture of the ghost gun, ammunition or parts thereof, machinery, 
tool, or instrument in favor of the government which shall be disposed of in accordance 
with law.
SEC. 7. Use of Ghost Gun in the Commission of a Crime. - The use of a ghost 
gun, when inherent in the commission of a crime punishable under the Revised Penal 
Code or other special penal laws, shall be considered as an aggravating circumstance.
SEC. 8. Custodia Legis. - During the pendency of any case filed in violation of 
this Act, seized ghost gun, ammunition, or parts thereof, machinery, tools or 
instruments shall remain in the custody of the court. If the court decides that it has no 
adequate means to safely keep the same, the court shall Issue an order to turn over to 
the PNP Crime Laboratory such ghost gun, ammunition, or parts thereof, machinery, 
tools or instruments in its custody during the pendency of the case and to produce the 
same to the court when so ordered. No bond shall be admitted for the release of the 
ghost gun, ammunition or parts thereof, machinery, tool or instrument.
SEC. 9. Firearms Repository. - The Firearms and Explosive Office of the PNP 
shall be the sole repository of all ghost guns and ammunition confiscated by 
government law enforcement and security agencies.
SEC. 10. Repeaiing Ciause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 11. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any provision of this Act or any part hereof is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not 
otherwise affected shall remain in force and effect.


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SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date
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of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,