Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 6912

———————
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

——

AN ACT FIXING THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF THE LICENSE TO OWN AND
POSSESS, PERMIT TO CARRY OUTSIDE OF RESIDENCE OR PLACE OF
BUSINESS AND REGISTRATION OF FIREARMS, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTIONS 7 AND 19 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10591,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “COMPREHENSIVE FIREARMS AND
AMMUNITION REGULATION ACT”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article |, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 10591 otherwise known as the
“Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act” lays down the policy of
‘the State to maintain peace and order and Protect the people against violence.
Under the same provision, the RA 10591 similarly recognizes the right of its
qualified citizens to self-defense through, when it is the reasonable means to repel
the unlawful aggression under the circumstances, the use of firearms. Thus, RA
10591 establishes the legal framework for 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.

This proposed bill streamlines both the licensing and registration of firearms and
‘extending the period of their validity. In doing so, it is hoped that gun owners will

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be encouraged to register and therefore reduce the number of loose firearms
proliferating in the country. According to the Philippine National Police, there were
are 200,000 private individuals who hold firearm and ammunition licenses. About
600,000 firearms are also registered with the PNP-FEO and authorities estimate
an approximately one million loose or unregistered firearms nationwide. Extending
the validity of the license is also beneficial to those who have a license as they
would not need to re-register and renew their registration and license as frequently
as under the existing law.

This proposed legislation is in line with the government's continuing initiatives to
achieve efficiency in license renewals and registration. By providing a standard
period of validity and firearms registration, the red tape that has discouraged gun
owners to register and secure licenses is also drastically reduced. Amending
Section 19 of RA No. 10591 by extending the validity of both the license and
registration to five (5) years so they can be renewed at the same time, the
extension aligns gun license validity with the validity of other government-issued
documents.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnest sought.

Luis asia JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No. 6912

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT FIXING THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF THE LICENSE TO OWN AND
POSSESS, PERMIT TO CARRY OUTSIDE OF RESIDENCE OR PLACE OF
BUSINESS AND REGISTRATION OF FIREARMS, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTIONS 7 AND 19 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10591,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “COMPREHENSIVE FIREARMS AND
AMMUNITION REGULATION ACT”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10591 is hereby amended to read as
follows;

"Sec. 7. Carrying of Firearms Outside of Residence or Place of Business. -
A permit to carry firearms shaill be issued by the Chief of the PNP 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. PROVIDED, THAT SUCH
PERMIT SHALL BE VALID THE APPLICATION, UNLESS SOONER
REVOKED OR SUSPENDED.

It shall be the burden of the applicant to prove that his/her life is under
actual threat by submitting a threat assessment certificate from the PNP.
For purposes of this Act, the following professionals are considered to be in
imminent danger due to the nature of their profession, occupation or
business:

(a) Members of the Philippine Bar;


(b) Certified Public Accountants;
(c) Accredited Media Practitioners;
(d) Cashiers, Bank Tellers;

(@) Priests, Ministers, Rabbi, Imams;
( Physicians and Nurses;

(@) Engineers; and

(h) Businessmen, who by the nature of their business or undertaking, are
exposed to high risk of being targets of criminal elements.

Sec. 2. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 10591 is hereby amended to read as
follows;

"Sec. 19. Renewal of Licenses and Registration. - All types of
licenses to possess a firearm shall be renewed every [two (2)] FIVE (5)
years RECKONED FROM THE BIRTHDATE OF THE LICENSEE,
UNLESS SOONER REVOKED OR SUSPENDED. 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. The registration of firearm shall be renewed every [four (-1)]
FIVE (5) years RECKONED FROM THE BIRTHDATE OF THE
LICENSEE. Failure to renew the registration of the firearm on or before
the date of the expiration shall cause the revocation of the license
of the firearm. The said firearm shall be confiscated or forfeited in favor of
the government after due process.
The failure to renew a license or registration within the periods stated
above on two (2) occasions shall cause the holder of the firearm to be
perpetually disqualified from applying for any firearm license. The
for the renewal of the license or registration may be submitted
fo the FEO of the PNP, within six (6) months before the date of the
expiration of such license or registration.”
Sec. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Chief of the PNP shall formulate the necessary rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the sections or provisions which are not
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules, regulations,
other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby 8
repealed or modified accordingly.


Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,