Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by the Honorable Precious Hipolito Castelo 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Just recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that there are 664,480 firearms 
owned by private persons with expired licenses as of the second quarter of 2021.1 Out of these, 
only 7,950 loose firearms were recovered in various operations throughout the country. 
These illegal, unregistered, or unlicensed firearms are often the cause of gun violence in the 
country, which commonly happens in the commission of heinous crimes such as homicides, 
robberies, massacres, high profile drug heists, and other similar crimes. According to the PNP, 
almost 99% of the guns used in these crimes are loose firearms.2 
In a report published by International Alert Philippines, the following are identified as the most 
common sources of illegal guns in the country: 1) technical smuggling; 2) recycled guns 
acquired from battlefields between government and rebel forces; 3) guns with expired 
licenses; and 4) local manufacturers.3 In order to nip the supply chain of illegal firearms in the 
bud, it is suggested herein to have a bureau whose sole focus will be the regulation of guns 
in the country. 
It is in this regard that the undersigned author deems it necessary to establish the Bureau of 
Firearms and Explosives (BFE), a separate and independent bureau which shall primarily be 
responsible for the regulation and enforcement of laws regarding the manufacture, sales, 
ownership, safety training, transfer, and disposition of firearms. 
Hence, the approval of this instant measure is earnestly sought. 
PRECIOUS HIPOLITO CASTELO 
1 Andrade, Jeannette. “PNP Chief wants all loose firearms accounted for”. Inquirer.net. Retrieved on October 29, 
2021 at https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1483772/pnp-chief-wants-all-loose-firearms-accounted-for 
2 Diega, Alladin. “Loose firearms: Linchpin for gun-related violence”. Business Mirror. Retrieved on October 29, 
2021 at https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/01/21/loose-firearms-linchpin-for-gun-related-violence/
3 International Alert (2017), Where do illegal guns in the Philippines come from?, Retrieved on October 29, 2021 
at https://www.international-alert.org/stories/where-do-illegal-guns-in-the-philippines-come-from/
November 4, 2021
2:41 pm
10443


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by the Honorable Precious Hipolito Castelo 
AN ACT 
CREATING 
THE 
BUREAU 
OF 
FIREARMS 
AND 
EXPLOSIVES 
AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
ARTICLE I 
INTRODUCTION 
SECTION 1. Short Title – This Act shall be known as the “Bureau of Firearms and Explosives 
Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies and Principles – It is the duty of the State to maintain 
peace and order and protect the people against violence. The State also recognizes the right 
of its qualified citizens to self-defense through the use of firearms, when it is the reasonable 
means to repel or prevent the unlawful aggression, and absent any sufficient provocation on 
the part of the person defending himself under the circumstances. Towards this end, the State 
shall provide for a comprehensive law regulating the ownership, possession, carrying, 
manufacture, dealing in and importation of firearms, ammunition, or parts thereof, in order to 
provide legal support to law enforcement agencies in their campaign against crime, stop the 
proliferation of illegal firearms or weapons and the illegal manufacture of firearms or weapons, 
ammunition and parts thereof. 
SECTION 3. Balancing of Interests – This Act is not intended to place any undue or 
unnecessary restrictions or burden on law-abiding citizens with respect to the acquisition, 
possession, or use of firearms appropriate to the purpose of hunting, trapshooting, target 
shooting, personal protection, or any other lawful activity, and is not intended to discourage or 
eliminate the private ownership or use of firearms by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes, 
or provide the imposition of any procedures or requirements other than those reasonably 
necessary to implement and effectuate the provisions of this Act. 
ARTICLE II 
OWNERSHIP AND POSSESSION OF FIREARMS 
SECTION 4. Standards and Requisites for Issuance of and Obtaining a License to Own 
and Possess Firearms. – In order to qualify and acquire a license to own and possess a 
firearm or firearms and ammunition, the applicant must be a Filipino citizen, at least twenty-
one (21) years old and has gainful work, occupation or business and has filed an Income Tax 
Return (ITR) for the preceding year as proof of income, profession, business or occupation. 
In addition, the applicant must submit the following certification issued by appropriate 
authorities attesting the following: 
A. The applicant has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude:
10443


 
B. The applicant has passed the psychiatric test administered by a government 
accredited psychologist or psychiatrist; 
 
C. The applicant has passed the drug test conducted by an accredited or 
authorized drug testing laboratory or clinic; 
 
D. The applicant has passed a gun safety seminar which is administered by a 
registered and authorized gun club; 
 
E. The applicant has filed in writing the application to possess a registered firearm 
which shall state the personal circumstances of the applicant; 
 
F. The applicant must present a National Bureau of Investigation clearance 
certificate; and 
 
G. The applicant must pay the reasonable licensing fees as may be provided in 
the implementing rules and regulations of this Act. 
 
SECTION 5. Ownership of Firearms and Ammunition by a Juridical Entity. – A juridical 
person maintaining its own security force may be issued a regular license to own and possess 
firearms and ammunition under the following conditions: 
 
A. It must be Filipino-owned and duly registered with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC); 
 
B. It is current, operational and a continuing concern; 
 
C. It has completed and submitted all its reportorial requirements to the SEC; and 
 
D. It has paid all its income taxes for the year, as duly certified by the Bureau of 
Internal Revenue. 
 
The application shall be made in the name of the juridical person represented by its President 
or any of its officers who are duly authorized in a board resolution to that effect: Provided, That 
the officer applying for the juridical entity, shall possess all the qualifications required of a 
citizen applying for a license to possess firearms. 
 
SECTION 6. Ownership of Firearms by the National Government. – All firearms owned by 
the National Government shall be registered in the name of the Republic of the Philippines. 
Such registration shall be exempt from all duties and taxes that may otherwise be levied on 
other authorized owners of firearms. For reason of national security and peace and order, all 
firearms issued to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other law enforcement 
agencies must submit an inventory of their firearms, ammunitions and explosives to the 
Bureau of Firearms and Explosives (BFE). 
 
SECTION 7. Carrying of Firearms Outside of Residence or Place of Business. – A permit 
to carry firearms outside of residence shall be issued by the Director General of the BFE or 
his/her duly authorized representative to any qualified person whose life is under actual threat 
or his/her life is in imminent danger due to the nature of his/her profession, occupation or 
business. It shall be the burden of the applicant to prove that his/her life is under actual threat 
by accomplishing and submitting a threat assessment request to BFE. 
 
ARTICLE III 
REGISTRATION AND LICENSING 


 
SECTION 8. Authority to Issue License. – The Director General of BFE, shall issue licenses 
to qualified individuals and cause the registration of firearms. 
 
SECTION 9. Licenses Issued to Individuals. – Subject to the requirements set forth in this 
Act and payment of required fees to be determined by BFE, a qualified individual may be 
issued the appropriate license under the following categories; 
 
A. Type 1 license – allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of two (2) 
registered firearms; 
 
B. Type 2 license – allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of five (5) 
registered firearms; 
 
C. Type 3 license – allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of ten (10) 
registered firearms; 
 
D. Type 4 license – allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of fifteen (15) 
registered firearms; and 
 
E. Type 5 license – allows a citizen, who is a certified gun collector, to own and 
possess more than fifteen (15) registered firearms. 
 
For Types 1 to 5 licenses, a vault or a container secured by lock and key or other security 
measures for the safekeeping of firearms shall be required. 
 
For Types 3 to 5 licenses, the citizen must comply with the inspection and bond requirements. 
 
SECTION 10. Firearms That May Be Registered. – Only small arms may be registered by 
licensed citizens or licensed juridical entities for ownership, possession and concealed carry. 
A light weapon shall be lawfully acquired or possessed exclusively by the AFP and other law 
enforcement agencies authorized by the President in the performance of their 
duties: Provided, That private individuals who already have licenses to possess Class-A light 
weapons upon the effectivity of this Act shall not be deprived of the privilege to continue 
possessing the same and renewing the licenses therefor, for the sole reason that these 
firearms are Class “A” light weapons, and shall be required to comply with other applicable 
provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 11. Registration of Firearms. – The licensed citizen or licensed juridical entity 
shall register his/her/its firearms so purchased with BFE in accordance with the type of license 
such licensed citizen or licensed juridical entity possesses. A certificate of registration of the 
firearm shall be issued upon payment of reasonable fees. 
 
SECTION 12. License to Possess Ammunition Necessarily Included. – The licenses 
granted to qualified citizens or juridical entities as provided in Section 9 of this Act shall likewise 
include the authority to possess ammunition with a maximum of fifty (50) rounds for each 
registered firearm. This amount may be increased subject to consideration of BFE. 
 
SECTION 13. Issuance of License to Manufacture or Deal in Firearms and 
Ammunition. – Any person desiring to manufacture or deal in firearms, parts of firearms or 
ammunition thereof, or instruments and implements used or intended to be used in the 
manufacture of firearms, parts of firearms or ammunition, shall submit applications to the 
Director General of BFE. 
 
The applicant must state the following in their application;  


A. The amount of capitalization for manufacture or cost of the purchase and sale 
of said articles intended to be transacted by such applicant, 
 
B. The types of firearms, ammunition or implements which the applicant intends 
to manufacture or purchase and sell under the license applied for,  
 
C. Any additional information as may be required by the Director General. 
 
The Director General may approve or disapprove such application based on the prescribed 
guidelines. In the case of approval, the Director General shall indicate the amount of the bond 
to be executed by the applicant before the issuance of the license and the period of time by 
which said license shall be effective, unless sooner revoked by their authority. 
 
SECTION 14. Scope of License to Manufacture Firearms and Ammunition. – The scope 
of the License to Manufacture firearms and ammunition shall also include the following: 
 
A. The authority to manufacture and assemble firearms, ammunition, spare parts 
and accessories, ammunition components, and reloading of ammunitions, 
within sites, areas, and factories stated therein; 
 
B. The license to deal in or sell all the items covered by the License to Manufacture, 
such as parts, firearms or ammunition and components; 
 
C. The authority to subcontract the manufacturing of parts and accessories 
necessary for the firearms which the manufacturer is licensed to 
manufacture: Provided, That the subcontractor of major parts or major 
components is also licensed to manufacture firearms and ammunition; and 
 
D. The authority to import machinery, equipment, and firearm parts and 
ammunition components for the manufacture thereof. Firearm parts and 
ammunition components to be imported shall, however, be limited to those 
authorized to be manufactured as reflected in the approved License to 
Manufacture. 
 
For the purpose of this Act, Importation Permit shall be issued by the Bureau of Firearms and 
Explosives. A licensed manufacturer of ammunition is also entitled to import various reference 
firearms needed to test the ammunition manufactured under the License to Manufacture. A 
licensed manufacturer of firearms, on the other hand, is entitled to import various firearms for 
reference, test and evaluation for manufacture of similar, types of firearms covered by the 
License to Manufacture. 
 
An Export Permit shall, however, be necessary to export manufactured parts or finished 
products of firearms and ammunition. The Export Permit of firearms and ammunition shall be 
under the administration of BFE. 
 
SECTION 15. Registration of Locally Manufactured and Imported Firearms. – Local 
manufacturers and importers of firearms and major parts thereof shall register the same as 
follows: 
 
A. For locally manufactured firearms and major parts thereof, the initial 
registration shall be done at the manufacturing facility: Provided, That, firearms 
intended for export shall no longer be subjected to ballistic identification 
procedures; and 
 


B. For imported firearms and major parts thereof, the registration shall be done 
upon arrival at the BFE storage facility. 
 
SECTION 16. License and Scope of License to Deal. – The License to Deal authorizes the 
purchase, sale and general business in handling firearms and ammunition, major and minor 
parts of firearms, accessories, spare parts, components, and reloading machines. 
 
SECTION 17. License and Scope of License for Gunsmiths. – The license for gunsmiths 
shall allow the grantee to repair registered firearms. The license shall include customization 
of firearms from finished or manufactured parts thereof on per order basis and not in 
commercial quantities and making the minor parts thereof, i.e. pins, triggers, trigger bows, 
sights and the like only for the purpose of repairing the registered firearm. 
 
SECTION 18. Firearms for Use in Sports and Competitions. – A qualified individual shall 
apply for a permit to transport his/her registered firearm/s from his/her residence to the firing 
range/s and competition sites as may be warranted. 
 
SECTION 19. Renewal of Licenses and Registration. – All types of licenses to possess a 
firearm, as well as, the registration of the firearm shall be renewed every three (3) years. 
Failure to renew the license on or before the date of its expiration shall cause the revocation 
of the license and of the registration of the firearm/s under said licensee, as well as, the 
confiscation of the said firearm in favor of the government. 
 
The failure to renew a license or registration within the period stated above on two (2) 
occasions shall cause the holder of the firearm to be perpetually disqualified from applying for 
any firearm license. The application for the renewal of the license or registration may be 
submitted to BFE, within six (6) months before the date of the expiration of such license or 
registration. 
 
SECTION 20. Inspection and Inventory. – The Director General or his/her authorized 
representative shall require the submission of reports, inspect or examine the inventory and 
records of a licensed manufacturer, dealer or importer of firearms and ammunition during 
reasonable hours. 
 
ARTICLE IV 
BUREAU OF FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES 
 
SECTION 21. Creation of the Bureau of Firearms and Explosives (BFE) - To carry out the 
provisions of this Act, the Bureau of Firearms and Explosives shall henceforth be established 
under the Office of the President of the Philippines. BFE shall be responsible for the efficient 
and effective enforcement of all firearms and explosives law as provided under this Act. 
 
The Firearms and Explosives Office of the Philippine National Police as created by Republic 
Act No. 10591 shall be accordingly revised, modified and absorbed by BFE.  
 
The Director General of the BFE shall be responsible for the necessary changes in the 
organizational set-up which shall be submitted to the Office of the President for approval. For 
purposes of carrying out its duties and powers as provided for in the succeeding sections of 
this Act, BFE shall have the following Services, namely: Behavioral Science Service, Legal 
and Policy Affairs Service, Laboratory and Ballistics Service, Licensing and Permits Service, 
Explosive Investigation Service. 
 
BFE shall establish and maintain regional offices in the different regions of the country which 
shall be responsible for the implementation of this Act and the policies, programs, and projects 
of said Bureau in their respective regions. 


 
SECTION 21. Composition of the BFE – BFE shall be headed by a Director General with 
the rank of Undersecretary, who shall be responsible for the general administration and 
management of the Bureau. The Director General of BFE shall be appointed by the President 
of the Philippines and shall perform such other duties that may be assigned to him/her.  
 
No person shall be appointed Director General unless he is a natural born Filipino citizen, who 
is at least thirty-five (35) years of age on the day of his/her appointment, a person of known 
and proven competence, integrity, probity and independence, a member of the Philippine Bar 
or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who has been engaged in the practice of their profession 
for at least fifteen (15) years or who is a former Lieutenant General or equivalent rank with at 
least twenty (20) years law enforcement experience. Provided further, that in the selection of 
the Director General and the Deputy Directors General, consideration shall be given to such 
qualifications as would result, as far as practicable, in the balanced representation in the 
Directorate General of the various fields relative to the Bureau.  
 
The Director General of BFE shall be assisted in the performance of his/her duties and 
responsibilities by two (2) Deputy Directors General with the rank of Assistant Secretary; one 
for Operations and the other one for Administration. The two (2) Deputy Directors General 
shall likewise be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the 
Executive Secretary. The two (2) Deputy Directors General shall possess the same 
qualifications as those of the Director General of the BFE. The Director General and the two 
(2) Deputy Directors General shall receive the compensation and salaries as prescribed by 
law. 
 
The Director General shall further be assisted by five (5) Assistant Directors for the five (5) 
Services under the Bureau. The Assistant Directors shall likewise be appointed by the 
President of the Philippines with the following qualifications; 
 
A. The Assistant Director for the Behavioral Science Service shall be a licensed 
Psychiatrist and shall have been engaged in the practice of psychiatry for at 
least fifteen (15) years.  
 
B. The Assistant Director for Legal and Policy Affairs Service shall be a member 
of the Philippine Bar who has been engaged in the practice of law for at least 
fifteen (15) years   
 
C. The Assistant Director for the Laboratory and Ballistics Service shall be a duly 
certified Ballistician and practiced as such for at least fifteen (15) years. 
 
D. The Assistant Director for Licensing and Permits Service shall be a member of 
the bar who has been engaged in the practice of law for at least fifteen (15) 
years and has extensive experience in the fields of business processing and 
permits; and 
 
E. The Assistant Director of the Explosive Investigation Service shall be with the 
same fifteen (15) years of experience and practice. 
 
On top of the specific requirements for the aforementioned positions, candidates must 
possess the following generic qualifications; 
 
A. At least four (4) years of the required experience must be in a supervisory/ 
management work experience.  
 


B. Possess at least eighty (80) Training hours in any supervisory/management 
learning and development intervention undertaken within the last five (5) years 
Eligibility.  
 
C. Must possess either Career Executive Service (CES) Eligibility, Third Level 
Eligibility or RA 1080 (CPA). 
 
SECTION 22. Terms of Office. – - The Director General and Deputy Directors General shall 
be appointed by the President for a term of seven (7) years and shall be eligible for 
reappointment only once. Appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired term of 
the predecessor. 
 
SECTION 23. Powers and Functions of the Bureau – BFE shall have the following powers 
and functions: 
 
A. Approve the issuance of License to Own and Possess Firearms to qualified 
individuals and to cause registration of firearms in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act; 
 
B. Conduct the seminar for Gun Safety and Responsible Gun Ownership and 
collect the fee thereof and such fee shall be made available for use by the 
Bureau; 
 
C. Conduct the neuro-psychiatric exam as well as the drug test of applicants for 
License to Own and Possess Firearms; 
 
D. Retain at least fifty (50%) of the total collections for firearms and explosives 
fees and charges as the Bureau’s regulatory fund to defray the direct operating 
expenses of the Bureau and other regulatory activities; 
 
E. To prescribe and regulate the issuance of licenses and permits; 
 
F. To issue, amend, revise, suspend or cancel licenses and permits to own, 
possess, manufacture and sell firearms, ammunitions, effects thereof and other 
similar devices, and to prescribe the appropriate terms and conditions 
therefore; 
 
G. To determine, prescribe and approve and periodically review and adjust, 
reasonable rates and other related charges, relative to the operation of the 
issuance of license and permit to own and possess; 
 
H. To conduct investigations and hearings of complaints for violation relative to 
the license and permits and to impose fines and/ or penalties for such 
violations;    
 
I. To issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum and to summon witnesses to 
appear in any proceedings of the Bureau regarding firearms and explosives, 
and to administer oaths and affirmations; 
 
J. To promulgate rules and regulations governing proceedings before the Bureau: 
Provided, That the rules of procedure and evidence prevailing in the courts of 
law should not be controlling and it is the spirit and intention of said rules that 
the Bureau shall use every and all reasonable means to ascertain facts in its 
case speedily and objectively and without regard to technicalities of law and 
procedures, all in the interest of due process; 


 
K. To fix, impose and collect, and periodically review and adjust, reasonable fees 
and other related charges for services rendered; 
 
L. To formulate, promulgate, administer, implement and enforce rules and 
Regulations relative to the Bureau’s function and to equip, install and provide 
in their stations such devices, equipment facilities and operating procedures 
and techniques as may promote safety, protection, comfort and convenience 
to persons and property in their charges as well as the safety of persons and 
property within their areas of operations; 
 
M. To coordinate and cooperate with other government agencies and entities 
concerned with any aspect involving licensing and permits of firearms with the 
end in view of effecting continuing improvement of such services;  
 
N. To issue Head Stamps to Gun manufacturers and gun shop owners; 
 
O. To assist other law enforcement agencies in investigating crimes involving 
firearms and explosives; 
 
P. Act as the repository of all firearms, ammunitions and explosives coming from 
other countries and/or manufactured within the country prior to their sale and 
distribution; 
 
Q. To request the assistance and cooperate with the Philippine National Police 
(PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other law enforcement 
agencies in investigating crimes involving firearms and explosives; 
 
R. To grant amnesty to owners/possessors of loose firearms; 
 
S. To issue special licenses and/or permits to converted firearms; 
 
T. To conduct proper detonation, destruction and disposal of confiscated firearms, 
ammunitions and explosives after final judgment of a case; 
 
U. To maintain and operate an Integrated Ballistics Identification System; and 
 
V. To perform such other functions and duties as may be provided by law or 
proper or incidental to the purposes and objectives of this Act. 
 
SECTION 24. Powers and Functions of the Director General – the Director General of the 
Bureau of Firearms and Explosives shall exercise the following powers and functions; 
 
A. Direct, control and supervise the administration and operations of the Bureau; 
and 
 
B. Perform any and all acts necessary, proper, incidental to the attainment of the 
purposes and objectives of this Act. 
 
ARTICLE IV 
ACQUISITION, DEPOSIT OF FIREARMS, ABANDONED, 
DEMILITARIZED AND ANTIQUE FIREARMS 
 
SECTION 25. Acquisition or Purchase and Sale of Firearms and Ammunition. – Firearms 
and ammunition may only be acquired or purchased from authorized dealers, importers or 


local manufacturers and may be transferred or sold only from a licensed citizen or licensed 
juridical entity to another licensed citizen or licensed juridical entity: Provided, That, during 
election periods, the sale and registration of firearms and ammunition and the issuance of the 
corresponding licenses to citizens shall be allowed on the condition that the transport or 
delivery thereof shall strictly comply with the issuances, resolutions, rules and regulations 
promulgated by the Commission on Elections. 
 
SECTION 26. Deposit of Firearms by Persons Arriving from Abroad. – A person arriving 
in the Philippines who is legally in possession of any firearm or ammunition in his/her country 
of origin and who has declared the existence of the firearm upon embarkation and 
disembarkation but whose firearm is not registered in the Philippines in accordance with this 
Act shall deposit the same upon written receipt with the Collector of Customs for delivery to 
BFE for safekeeping, or for the issuance of a permit to transport if the person is a competitor 
in a sports shooting competition.  
 
If the importation of the same is allowed and the party in question desires to obtain a domestic 
firearm license, the same should be undertaken in accordance with the provisions of this Act. 
If no license is desired or leave to import is not granted, the firearm or ammunition in question 
shall remain in the custody of BFE until otherwise disposed of in-accordance with law. 
 
SECTION 27. Return of Firearms to Owner upon Departure from the Philippines. – Upon 
the departure from the Philippines of any person whose firearm or ammunition is in the custody 
of BFE, the same shall, upon timely request, be delivered to the person through the Collector 
of Customs. In the case of a participant in a local sports shooting competition, the firearm must 
be presented to the Collector of Customs before the same is allowed to be loaded on board 
the carrier on which the person is to board. 
 
SECTION 28. Safekeeping of Firearms and Ammunition. – Any licensee may deposit a 
registered firearm to BFE, or any of its Regional Offices for safekeeping. Reasonable fees for 
storage shall be imposed. 
 
SECTION 29. Abandoned Firearms and Ammunition. – Any firearm or ammunition 
deposited in the custody of BFE pursuant to the provisions of this Act, shall be deemed to 
have been abandoned by the owner or his/her authorized representative if he/she failed to 
reclaim the same within three (3) years or failed to advise BFE of the disposition to be made 
thereof. Thereafter, BFE may dispose of the same after compliance with established 
procedures. 
 
SECTION 30. Death or Disability of Licensee. – Upon the death or legal disability of the 
holder of a firearm license, it shall be the duty of his/her next of kin, nearest relative, legal 
representative, or other person who shall knowingly come into possession of such firearm or 
ammunition, to deliver the same to BFE or any of its Regional Offices. Such firearm or 
ammunition shall be retained by the BFE custodian pending the issuance of a license and its 
registration in accordance, with this Act. The failure to deliver the firearm or ammunition within 
six (6) months after the death or legal disability of the licensee shall render the possessor 
liable for illegal possession of the firearm. 
 
SECTION 31. Antique Firearm. – Any person who possesses an antique firearm shall 
register the same and secure a collector’s license from BFE. Proper storage of antique firearm 
shall be strictly imposed. Noncompliance of this provision shall be considered as illegal 
possession of the firearm as penalized in this Act. 
 
ARTICLE V 
PENAL PROVISIONS 
 


SECTION 32. Unlawful Acquisition, or Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. – The 
unlawful acquisition, possession of firearms and ammunition shall be penalized as follows: 
 
A. The penalty of prision mayor in its medium period shall be imposed upon any 
person who shall unlawfully acquire or possess a small arm; 
 
B. The penalty of reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua shall be imposed if 
three (3) or more small arms or Class-A light weapons are unlawfully acquired 
or possessed by any person; 
 
C. The penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period shall be imposed upon any 
person who shall unlawfully acquire or possess a Class-A light weapon; 
 
D. The penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon any person who shall, 
unlawfully acquire or possess a Class-B light weapon; 
 
E. The penalty of one (1) degree higher than that provided in paragraphs (a) to (c) 
in this section shall be imposed upon any person who shall unlawfully possess 
any firearm under any or combination of the following conditions: 
 
a. Loaded with ammunition or inserted with a loaded magazine; 
b. Fitted or mounted with laser or any gadget used to guide the shooter to 
hit the target such as thermal weapon sight (TWS) and the like; 
c. Fitted or mounted with sniper scopes, firearm muffler or firearm silencer; 
d. Accompanied with an extra barrel; and 
e. Converted to be capable of firing full automatic bursts. 
 
F. The penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period shall be imposed upon any 
person who shall unlawfully acquire or possess a major part of a small arm; 
 
G. The penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period shall be imposed upon any 
person who shall unlawfully acquire or possess ammunition for a small arm or 
Class-A light weapon. If the violation of this paragraph is committed by the 
same person charged with the unlawful acquisition or possession of a small 
arm, the former violation shall be absorbed by the latter; 
 
H. The penalty of prision mayor in its medium period shall be imposed upon any 
person who shall unlawfully acquire or possess a major part of a Class-A light 
weapon; 
 
I. The penalty of prision mayor in its medium period shall be imposed upon any 
person who shall unlawfully acquire or possess ammunition for a Class-A light 
weapon. If the violation of this paragraph is committed by the same person 
charged with the unlawful acquisition or possession of a Class-A light weapon, 
the former violation shall be absorbed by the latter; 
 
J. The penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period shall be imposed upon any 
person who shall unlawfully acquire or possess a major part of a Class-B light 
weapon; and 
 
K. The penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period shall be imposed upon any 
person who shall unlawfully acquire or possess ammunition for a Class-B light 
weapon. If the violation of this paragraph is committed by the same person 
charged with the unlawful acquisition or possession of a Class-B light weapon, 
the former violation shall be absorbed by the latter. 


 
L. The penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period shall be imposed upon any 
public officer or employee who shall unlawfully acquire or possess any firearms, 
ammunition or explosives, regardless of class. This shall be without prejudice 
to the filling of any appropriate administrative charge(s) under any applicable 
civil service law, rules or regulations.  
 
M. The penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon any public officer or 
employee if he uses such unlawfully acquired firearm, ammunition or 
explosives, regardless of class to commit any crime. This shall be without 
prejudice to the filling of any appropriate administrative charge(s) under any 
applicable civil service law, rules or regulations.  
 
SECTION 33. Use of Loose Firearm in the Commission of a Crime. – The use of a loose 
firearm, when inherent in the commission of a crime punishable under the Revised Penal Code 
or other special laws, shall be considered as an aggravating circumstance:  
 
Provided, that if the crime committed with the use of a loose firearm is penalized by the law 
with a maximum penalty which is lower than that prescribed in the preceding section for illegal 
possession of firearm, the penalty for illegal possession of firearm shall be imposed in lieu of 
the penalty for the crime charged:  
 
Provided further, that if the crime committed with the use of a loose firearm is penalized by the 
law with a maximum penalty which is equal to that imposed under the preceding section for 
illegal possession of firearms, the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period shall be 
imposed in addition to the penalty for the crime punishable under the Revised Penal Code or 
other special laws of which he/she is found guilty. 
 
If the violation of this Act is in furtherance of, or incident to, or in connection with the crime of 
rebellion of insurrection, or attempted coup d’ etat, such violation shall be absorbed as an 
element of the crime of rebellion or insurrection, or attempted coup d’ etat. 
 
If the crime is committed by the person without using the loose firearm, the violation of this Act 
shall be considered as a distinct and separate offense. 
 
SECTION 34. Liability of Juridical Person. – The penalty of prision mayor in its minimum 
to prision mayor in its medium period shall be imposed upon the owner, president, manager, 
director or other responsible officer of/any public or private firm, company, corporation or entity 
who shall willfully or knowingly allow any of the firearms owned by such firm, company, 
corporation or entity to be used by any person or persons found guilty of violating the 
provisions of the preceding section, or willfully or knowingly allow any of them to use 
unregistered firearm or firearms without any legal authority to be carried outside of their 
residence in the course of their employment. 
 
SECTION 35. Absence of Permit to Carry Outside of Residence. – The penalty of prision 
correccional and a fine of twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) shall be imposed upon any 
person who is licensed to own a firearm but who shall carry the registered firearm outside 
his/her residence without any legal authority therefor. 
 
SECTION 36. Unlawful Manufacture, Importation, Sale or Disposition of Firearms or 
Ammunition or Parts Thereof, Machinery, Tool or Instrument Used or Intended to be 
Used in the Manufacture of Firearms, Ammunition or Parts Thereof. – The penalty 
of reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon any person who shall 
unlawfully engage in the manufacture, importation, sale or disposition of a firearm or 
ammunition, or a major part of a firearm or ammunition, or machinery, tool or instrument used 


or intended to be used by the same person in the manufacture of a firearm, ammunition, or a 
major part thereof. 
 
The possession of any machinery, tool or instrument used directly in the manufacture of 
firearms, ammunition, or major parts thereof by any person whose business, employment or 
activity does not lawfully deal with the possession of such article, shall be prima facie evidence 
that such article is intended to be used in the unlawful or illegal manufacture of firearms, 
ammunition or parts thereof. 
 
The penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period to prision mayor in its medium period shall 
be imposed upon any laborer, worker or employee of a licensed firearms dealer who shall 
unlawfully take, sell or otherwise dispose of parts of firearms or ammunition which the 
company manufactures and sells, and other materials used by the company in the 
manufacture or sale of firearms or ammunition. The buyer or possessor of such stolen part or 
material, who is aware that such part or material was stolen, shall suffer the same penalty as 
the laborer, worker or employee. 
 
If the violation or offense is committed by a corporation, partnership, association or other 
juridical entity, the penalty provided for in this section shall be imposed upon the directors, 
officers, employees or other officials or persons therein who knowingly and willingly 
participated in the unlawful act. 
 
SECTION 37. Arms Smuggling. – The penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon 
any person who shall engage or participate in arms smuggling as defined in this Act. 
 
SECTION 38. Tampering, Obliteration or Alteration of Firearms Identification. – The 
penalty of prision correccional to prision mayor in its minimum period shall be imposed upon 
any person who shall tamper, obliterate or alter without authority the barrel, slide, frame, 
receiver, cylinder, or bolt assembly, including the name of the maker, model, or serial number 
of any firearm, or who shall replace without authority the barrel, slide, frame, receiver, cylinder, 
or bolt assembly, including its individual or peculiar identifying characteristics essential in 
forensic examination of a firearm or light weapon. 
 
BFE shall place this information, including its individual or peculiar identifying characteristics 
in its integrated firearms identification system for future use and identification of a particular 
firearm. 
 
SECTION 39. Use of an Imitation Firearm. – An imitation firearm used in the commission of 
a crime shall be considered a real firearm as defined in this Act and the person who committed 
the crime shall be punished in accordance with this Act: Provided, that injuries caused on the 
occasion of the conduct of competitions, sports, games, or any recreation activities involving 
imitation firearms shall not be punishable under this Act. 
 
SECTION 40. In Custodia Legis. – During the pendency of any case filed in violation of this 
Act, seized firearm, 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 BFE such firearm, 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 firearm, ammunition or parts thereof, machinery, tool or instrument. Any violation 
of this paragraph shall be punishable by prision mayor in its minimum period to prision 
mayor in its medium period. 
 
SECTION 41. Confiscation and Forfeiture. – The imposition of penalty for any violation of 
this Act shall carry with it the accessory penalty of confiscation and forfeiture of the firearm, 


ammunition, or parts thereof, machinery, tool or instrument in favor of the government which 
shall be disposed of in accordance with law. 
 
SECTION 42. Liability for Planting Evidence. – The penalty of prision mayor in its maximum 
period shall be imposed upon any person who shall willfully and maliciously insert; place, 
and/or attach, directly or indirectly, through any overt or covert act, any firearm, or ammunition, 
or parts thereof in the person, house, effects, or in the immediate vicinity of an innocent 
individual for the purpose of implicating or incriminating the person, or imputing the 
commission of any violation of the provisions of this Act to said individual.  
 
If the person found guilty under this paragraph is a public officer or employee, such person 
shall suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua. This shall be without prejudice to the filling of 
any appropriate administrative charge(s) under any applicable civil service law, rules or 
regulations. 
 
SECTION 43. Grounds for Revocation, Cancellation or Suspension of License or 
Permit. – The Director General of BFE or any of his/her authorized representative may revoke, 
cancel or suspend a license or permit on the following grounds: 
 
A. Commission of a crime or offense involving the firearm, ammunition, of major 
parts thereof; 
 
B. Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude or any offense where the penalty 
carries an imprisonment of more than six (6) years; 
 
C. Loss of the firearm, ammunition, or any parts thereof through negligence; 
 
D. Carrying of the firearm, ammunition, or major parts thereof outside of residence 
or workplace without, the proper permit to carry the same; 
 
E. Carrying of the firearm, ammunition, or major parts thereof in prohibited places; 
 
F. Dismissal for cause from the service in case of government official and 
employee; 
 
G. Commission of any of the acts penalized under Republic Act No. 9165, 
otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002”; 
 
H. Submission of falsified documents or misrepresentation in the application to 
obtain a license or permit; 
 
I. Noncompliance of reportorial requirements; and 
 
J. By virtue of a court order. 
 
SECTION 44. Failure to Notify Lost or Stolen Firearm or Light Weapon. – A fine of fifteen 
thousand pesos (P15,000.00) shall be imposed upon any licensed firearm holder who fails to 
report to BFE that the subject firearm has been lost or stolen within a period of thirty (30) days 
from the date of discovery. 
 
Likewise, a fine of ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person 
holding a valid firearm license who changes residence or office address other than that 
indicated in the license card and fails within a period of thirty (30) days from said transfer to 
notify BFE of such change of address. 
 


SECTION 45. Illegal Transfer/Registration of Firearms. – It shall be unlawful to transfer 
possession of any firearm to any person who has not yet obtained or secured the necessary 
license or permit thereof. 
 
The penalty of prision correccional shall be imposed upon any person who shall violate the 
provision of the preceding paragraph. In addition, he/she shall be disqualified to apply for a 
license to possess other firearms and all his/her existing firearms licenses whether for 
purposes of commerce or possession, shall be revoked. If government-issued firearms, 
ammunition or major parts of firearms or light weapons are unlawfully disposed, sold or 
transferred by any law enforcement agent or public officer to private individuals, the penalty 
of reclusion temporal shall be imposed. 
 
Any public officer or employee or any person who shall facilitate the registration of a firearm 
through fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or submission of falsified documents shall suffer the 
penalty of prision correccional. 
 
ARTICLE VI 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
SECTION 46. Firearms Repository. – BFE shall be the primary and sole repository of all 
firearms records, including imported and locally manufactured firearms, ammunition and 
explosives.  
 
Within one (1) year upon approval of this Act, all military and law enforcement agencies, 
government agencies, LGUs and government-owned or-controlled corporations shall submit 
an inventory of all their firearms, ammunitions and explosives to BFE. The inventory of 
firearms, ammunitions and explosives shall be updated on yearly basis, unless required 
otherwise by the BFE. 
 
SECTION 47. Final Amnesty. – Persons in possession of unregistered firearms and holders 
of expired license or unregistered firearms shall register and renew the same through the Final 
General Amnesty within six (6) months from the promulgation of the implementing rules and 
regulations of this Act. During the interim period of six (6) months, no person applying for 
license shall be charged of any delinquent payment accruing to the firearm subject for 
registration. BFE shall conduct an intensive nationwide campaign to ensure that the general 
public is properly informed of the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 48. Implementing Rules and Regulations – Within one hundred twenty (120) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Director General of BFE, after public hearings and 
consultation with concerned sectors of society shall formulate the necessary rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act to be published in at least two (2) 
national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
SECTION 49. Appropriations – Funds needed to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be 
taken from the funds available in the Office of the President. Thereafter, the approved budget 
of the Board shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 50. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect. 
 
SECTION 51. Repealing Clause - Pertinent provisions of Rep. Act No. 10591, or the 
Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and all other laws, decrees, 
executive orders and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
 


SECTION 52. Date of Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette. 
 
Approved,