THE House Committee on Public Order and Safety chaired by Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez on Monday created a technical working group (TWG) to extensively discuss proposed amendments to Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.”
The bills proposing amendments to the law are House Bill (HB) 11141 authored by Fernandez, HB 893 by 1-PACMAN Party-list Rep. Michael Romero and HB 9718 by CIBAC Party-list Rep. Eduardo Villanueva.
According to Fernandez, his bill aims to amend certain provisions of RA 10591 that are overly rigid, making it unreasonably difficult for private citizens to own or use licensed firearms.
Proposed amendments include provisions on firearm standards, licensing for ownership, carrying outside residences, ammunition possession, firearm manufacturing, registration and use in sports and competitions.
Resource persons, particularly from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), opined that amendments to the law should balance public safety and the rights of licensed firearm owners.
“These amendments will also ensure that the law remains responsive to the current and future needs of licensed citizens as well as the industry,” Police Brig. Gen. Ericson Dilag said while expressing support for the measures.
Lawyer Martin Ontog of the Office of the Special Envoy on Transnational Crime affirmed the need for balanced firearms legislation.
He said some provisions in the bills align with international firearm standards, but other proposed amendments risk undermining efforts by promoting relaxed regulations, which could fuel black market proliferation.
“This committee should prioritize a robust public safety, monitoring mechanisms in adherence to global standards to prevent the Philippines from becoming a hub for transnational weapons trafficking,” he added.
The TWG will be headed by committee vice chairperson and Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop.
About the Author
