Surrender and Licensing of Loose Firearms

December 11, 2006

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 585

PROVIDING FOR THE SURRENDER AND LICENSING OF LOOSE FIREARMS AND THE UTILIZATION OF FUNDS FROM THE PROCEEDS THEREOF

WHEREAS, despite the issuance of Executive Order Nos. 171 and 390, an estimated 304,262 loose firearms remain to be accounted and licensed;

WHEREAS, it is consistent with the national interest that these loose firearms be submitted for licensing and the holders of loose firearms be encouraged and given an opportunity to obtain the required firearm license;

WHEREAS, the purpose of the registration and licensing of loose firearms will be accomplished if the appropriate technology and resources are made available to exploit the firearm ballistic data bank;

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the state to encourage the use of IT resources by governmental entities and offices in the delivery of services to the public;

WHEREAS, Executive Order 171 was approved on January 22, 2003 to address these issues but its implementation was limited due to the COMELEC imposed gun ban during the election period of 2004;

WHEREAS, Executive Order 171 was extended thru Executive Order 390 but the duration was limited only to seven months;

WHEREAS, there is a need to implement another firearm amnesty program to license all loose firearms in the possession of natural and juridical persons who were not able to take advantage of EO 171 and EO 390. CAHTIS

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Any natural and juridical person who possess loose firearms may surrender the same to the Philippine National Police for custody and apply for the corresponding license as required by existing laws within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Order, excluding the election period (January 14, 2007 to June 13, 2007), which was declared by the COMELEC pursuant to COMELEC Resolution 7707. Concerned holders of said firearms may avail of this amnesty only within the period. Each firearm submitted for licensing shall have its own distinct firearm description.

SECTION 2. As a general rule, high-powered rifles/paltik firearms may not be allowed for licensing. However, the Chief, PNP may allow the licensing of some high-powered firearms. Those who will surrender the same will not be prosecuted for illegal possession of firearm while in the act of surrendering the said firearms.

SECTION 3. An amnesty fee of Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000.00) for High Powered Firearms and Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) for Low Powered Firearms, shall be collected for each firearm registered.

SECTION 4. Fees collected in Section 3, thereof, shall be treated as a Trust Liability and deposited in a Special Account in an Authorized Government Depository Bank (AGDB) to support the nation-wide implementation of the Firearms Information Management System (FIMS), Firearms Records Management System and the Firearms Ballistic Information System in the priority and, any unexpended balance therefrom, shall be reverted to the General Fund.

SECTION 5. The Firearms and Explosives Division (FED), Civil Security Group (CSG), the Regional Offices and the Provincial/City Police Offices of the PNP involved in the processing and registration of loose firearms shall retain 20% of the gross proceeds of the collection to support their respective direct costs of licensing operation.

SECTION 6. The Chief, PNP shall issue such Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) that will effectively carryout the provisions of the Executive Order subject to the approval/concurrence of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.

SECTION 7. All orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. TSADaI

SECTION 8. This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 11th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.