Amendments to gun law eyed after PNP relaxes rules on semi-automatic rifles ownership

At least two senators have floated the need to amend the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act after the Philippine National Police (PNP) revised the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law, essentially allowing civilians to own semi-automatic rifles.

In a press conference, Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday urged not only the halting of the implementation of the new IRR but also the amendments to Republic Act (RA) 10591.

Marcos raised fears that this latest move by the PNP may result in a rise in criminality, terrorism, arms smuggling, and widespread violence, especially in light of the upcoming 2025 elections.

“Hindi maliwanag ang batas kaya nananawagan ako sa aking mga kasamahan sa Senado na sa lalong madaling panahon, hindi lamang resolusyon kundi baguhin na natin ‘yang batas na ‘yan at talagang ipagbawal na ang semi-automatic at pati na rin itong M14. Hindi talaga pwede ‘yan,” she said.

(The law is unclear, that’s why I call upon our Senate colleagues to not just resolve, but change, the law and truly ban semi-automatics, including the M14, at the soonest possible time.)

“Kung kinakailangan ibalik natin ‘yung dating wording ng IRR ng 2018 na sinasabi na basta light caliber lamang at for sporting shooting lamang… Siguro ngayon pa lang sabihin na natin sa PNP, ‘wag nang gawing effective, ‘wag nang antayin na maging force and effect itong bagong IRR ng 2024,” she added.

(If we need to revert to the old wording of the 2018 IRR, which states that only light shooting and sport shooting shall be allowed… Perhaps this early, we can tell the PNP not to wait for the new IRR to come into force and effect in 2024.)

The lawmaker said the PNP “is shooting itself in the foot and compromising law enforcement efficiency… and public safety” with its latest decision.

“Do we want a proliferation of shooting violence like in the US? Who is lobbying for firearms manufacture and imports?” she asked.

Gun collectors

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros likewise called for amendments to the law regulating firearms in the country, especially in light of “rampant” killings across the nation.

“Hoarding high-powered weapons should not be a hobby, much less one enabled by law… Malinaw na kailangan nang repasuhin ang mga batas ukol sa gun ownership sa Pilipinas. In this time of rampant killings and conflict, we need stronger regulations against the proliferation of firearms in our streets,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

(Hoarding high-powered weapons should not be a hobby, much less one enabled by law… It’s clear that we need to revise the law on gun ownership in the Philippines. In this time of rampant killings and conflict, we need stronger regulations against the proliferation of firearms in our streets.)

Among the “broken provisions” of the law that should be addressed is Section 9, Article III of RA 10591, Hontiveros said, which allows so-called gun collectors to amass more than fifteen firearms without much explicit restrictions.

Hontiveros said the government must move in the direction of tighter, not looser, gun control.

“Walang sibilyan ang dapat nakakapag-shopping spree ng daan-daang baril. Talaga bang simpleng collector lang ang matatawag sa isang tao na may sapat na baril para sa militia o private army?” Hontiveros asked.

(No civilian should be allowed to go on a shopping spree of hundreds of firearms. Can we really call an individual with enough guns for militia or private army a simple collector?)

“We should not allow anyone, especially politicians, business persons and their personnel, to own so many guns.  We must fix our gun laws, and stop the rise of political killings and warlordism in our country,” she added.

Call for restraint

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino called for deeper studies on the effect of allowing civilians to own semi-automatic rifles to the peace and order situation of the country.

“Kung ina-allow ng batas maaaring sabihin ng gun owners na allowed sila. But if you look at the greater societal concerns, papayag ba kayo, kapitbahay mo may machine gun?” Tolentino asked.

(If the law would allow it, then gun owners may say that they have legal authority. If you look at the greater societal concerns, will you allow your neighbor to own a machine gun.)

“Ang pakiusap ko po siguro kahit i-allow ito ay maghinay-hinay muna. Una, piliin ‘yung karapat-dapat mag-possess. Siguro mga sports enthusiasts. Piliin ‘yung tamang tao na hahawak nito, ‘di ba? Napakarami na nating road rage,” he said.

(Even if the revised IRRs are allowed, my appeal is not to move in haste. First, we should choose the ones who are eligible to possess firearms. Perhaps people like sports enthusiasts. We should choose the right people to bear these arms, right? We already have so many incidents of road rage.)

Tolentino mentioned the recent incident in Taguig where policemen chased and nabbed a Chinese who tried to flee from and shot at arresting officers last Monday.

“Baka kung saan mapunta ito (Who knows where this would end up). My suggestion is slow it down. Have a deeper study as to the peace and order ramifications,” he said.

Police scrutiny needed

Contrary to the position of his colleagues, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who is a gun enthusiast himself, said the PNP should ensure that they will impose strict scrutiny before issuing licenses to gun owners.

“I’d be a hypocrite kung sasabihin ko ayoko dahil meron din po akong long firearms… Nakita naman po natin ang mga datos ang nagkakaroon ng krimen halos 98% ng krimen ay galing sa illegal firearms at sa mga sindikato’t criminal,” Zubiri said in a press conference.

(I’d be a hypocrite if I said I wasn’t in favor of the law because I also have long firearms… We can see from our data that almost 98% of crimes came from illegal firearms, syndicates, and criminals.)

“Dapat lang pagsikapin nila at pagbusisi na pagbibigay po ng lisensya at pagbebenta ng mga baril sa kanila because we still have insurgency, we still have internal security threats,” he added.

(It is just proper that they scrutinize the issuance of licences and sale of firearms to the public because we still have insurgency, we still have internal security threats.

For Zubiri, this relaxed regulation on high-powered firearms will not lead to the situation similar in America, where mass shooting incidents have become repeated incidents.

“I think malayo pa tayo sa Amerika, iba ‘yung sa Amerika, ‘yung mass shooting incidents nila du’n, it’s more psychological in nature. Dito sa atin, ang only concern ko kung siguro maibili ‘yan magamit ng mga rebelde, ‘di ba?” Zubiri said.

(I think our situation is still far from America. The mass shooting incidents there are different. It’s more psychological in nature. Our only concern here is, will the guns be purchased and used by rebels, right?)

“Other than that, wala po akong nakikitang mga tao na pupunta sa mga eskwelahan mag-open fire ng mga rifles. I think the most important part there is the selection of those who will be capable of owning these firearms. ‘Wag po i-shortcut neuro test, ‘wag po i-shortcut drug test,” he added.

(Other than that, I don’t see a situation where people with rifles will go to schools and open fire. I think the most important part there is the selection of those who will be capable of owning these firearms. There should be no shortcut to the neurological test, drug test.)

Without guns

Apart from the senators, Gunless Society of the Philippines president Norman Cabrera earlier expressed reservations over the amendments.

The group suggested not just amending the IRR but the law itself. It wants to prohibit civilians from carrying their firearms outside their homes and limit their guns to only two.

The PNP, for its part, assured the public that safeguards are in place amid concerns raised by some groups as civilians will now be allowed to own semi-automatic firearms.

Among the safeguards are the qualifications set to own these guns like Filipino citizenship, legal age, employment, and requirements such as income tax returns, police clearance, psychiatric and drug tests, as well as training.

PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said the amended policy would promote responsible ownership as firearms holders would be encouraged to register their high-powered guns. — VDV, GMA Integrated News