COMPREHENSIVE LAW ON FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION RA10591

[SALIENT POINTS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10591]

This Act shall be 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:

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3397 and House Bill No. 5484 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on February 4, 2013 and February 5, 2013, respectively.

It is the policy of the state to maintain peace and order and protect the people against violence. It 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. This law regulates 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.

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 or has filed an Income Tax Return (ITR) for the preceding year as proof of income, profession, business or occupation.

In addition, the applicant shall submit the following certification issued by appropriate authorities attesting the following:

  • The applicant has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude:
  • The applicant has passed the psychiatric test administered by a PNP-accredited psychologist or psychiatrist;
  • The applicant has passed the drug test conducted by an accredited and authorized drug testing laboratory or clinic;
  • The applicant has passed a gun safety seminar which is administered by the PNP or a registered and authorized gun club;
  • The applicant has filed in writing the application to possess a registered firearm which shall state the personal circumstances of the applicant;
  • The applicant must present a police clearance from the city or municipality police office; and
  • The applicant has not been convicted or is currently an accused in a pending criminal case before any court of law for a crime that is punishable with a penalty of more than two (2) years.

The applicant shall pay the reasonable licensing fees as may be provided in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

The Chief of the PNP, through the FEO of the PNP, shall issue licenses to qualified individuals and to cause the registration of firearms under the following categories;

  • Type 1 license “ allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of two (2) registered firearms;
  • Type 2 license “ allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of five (5) registered firearms;
  • Type 3 license “ allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of ten (10) registered firearms;
  • Type 4 license “ allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of fifteen (15) registered firearms; and
  • 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.

Only small arms may be registered by licensed citizens or licensed juridical entities for ownership, possession and concealed carry. The licensed citizen or licensed juridical entity shall register his/her/its firearms so purchased with the FEO of the PNP 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.

The licenses granted to qualified citizens or juridical entities as provided in this Act shall include the license to possess ammunition with a maximum of fifty (50) rounds for each registered firearm: Provided; That the FEO of the PNP may allow more ammunition to be possessed by licensed sports shooters.

All types of licenses to possess a firearm shall be renewed every two (2) 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.

The registration of the firearm shall be renewed every four (4) years. Failure to renew the registration of the firearm on or before the date of 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 application for the renewal of the license or registration may be submitted to the FEO of the PNP, within six (6) months before the date of the expiration of such license or registration.

The unlawful acquisition, possession of firearms and ammunition shall be penalized.

To view the full text of Republic Act No. 10591, go to https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2013/ra_10591_2013.html