ILIPPINES UNDER COMMONWEALTH ACT NO.

638
BOHOLST, JEWERLY MAE
B.S CRIMINOLOGY 4TH YEAR BLOCK A

Summary of the comprehensive law for firearms and ammunition

Republic Act No.10591, otherwise known as “THE COMPREHENSIVE LAW ON

FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS

RULE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Short Title

These Rules shall be known and cited as the Implementing Rules and Regulations of
Republic Act No. 10591, otherwise known as “Comprehensive Firearms and
Ammunition Regulation Act”.

Section 2. Declaration of State Policy

“It is the policy of the State to maintain peace and order and protect the people from
violence. The State also recognizes the right of its qualified citizens to self-defense
through, when it is the reasonable means to repel unlawful aggression under the
circumstances, the use of firearms.

Section 3. Definition of Terms

3.1 Accessories – refer to parts of a firearm which may enhance or increase the

operational efficiency or accuracy of a firearm but will not constitute any of the major or
minor internal parts thereof such as, but not limited to, laser scope, telescopic sight and
sound suppressor or silencer;

3.2 Ammunition – refers to a complete unfired unit consisting of a bullet, gunpowder,

cartridge case and primer or loaded shell for use in any firearm;

3.2.1 Bullet – The projectile propelled through the barrel of a firearm by means of the

expansive force of gases coming from burning gunpowder;

3.2.2 Cartridge Case – A container, usually metal and cylindrical in shape, to be

loaded with a primer, powder charge and bullet. After loading, it becomes a complete
cartridge, of which the case is but one element. It is commonly made of brass, although
some modern cartridge cases are made of steel, aluminum, or other materials;

3.2.3 Gun Powder – refers to any explosive powder used to propel projectiles intended
for firearms; and
3.2.4 Primer – also called an “igniter”, refers to a device used for the purpose of setting
fire to ignite the gun powder.

3.3 Antique Firearm – refers to any: (1) firearm which was manufactured at least
seventy-five (75) years prior to the current date but not including replicas; (2) firearm
which is certified by the National Museum of the Philippines to be curio or relic of
museum interest; and (3) any other firearm which derives a substantial part of its
monetary value from the fact that it is novel, rare, bizarre or because of its association
with some historical figure, period or event;

3.4 Arms Smuggling – refers to the import, export, acquisition, sale, delivery,
movement or transfer of firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, from or
across the territory of one country to that of another country which has not been
authorized in accordance with domestic law in either or both country/countries;

3.5 Assembling of Firearms – refers to the fitting together of legally acquired parts or
spare parts of firearms to create a complete firearm;

3.6 Authority to Import – refers to a document issued by the Chief of the Philippine
National Police (Chief, PNP) authorizing the importation of firearms, or their parts,
ammunition and other components;

3.7 Authority to Export – refers to a document issued by the Chief, PNP authorizing
the exportation of firearms, or their parts, ammunition and other components;

3.8 Authorized Bonded Firearm Custodian – refers to the employee of the juridical

entity who is covered by bond to be accountable for the registered firearms under the
name of the juridical entity;

3.9 Authorized Dealer – refers to any person, legal entity, corporation, partnership or
business entity duly licensed by the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) to engage in
the business of buying and selling ammunition, firearms or parts thereof, at wholesale or
retail basis;

3.10 Authorized Importer – refers to any person, legal entity, corporation, partnership
or business duly licensed by the FEO to engage in the business of importing
ammunition and firearms, or parts thereof into the territory of the Republic of the
Philippines for purposes of sale or distribution under the provisions of this IRR;

3.11 Authorized Manufacturer – refers to any person, legal entity, corporation, or

partnership duly licensed by the FEO to engage in the business of manufacturing
firearms and ammunition, or parts thereof for purposes of sale or distribution;

3.12 Bolt Action – refers to a type of firearm action in which the weapon’s bolt is
operated manually by the opening and closing of the breech;
3.13 Bond – refers to the cash or surety intended as a security and as a commitment to
comply with all the existing laws and regulations of this IRR as determined by the PNP
through the FEO, by a licensed citizen, a licensed juridical entity, licensed dealers,
manufacturers or gunsmiths;

3.13.1 Authorized Firearm Custodian Bond – refers to the bond issued to an

authorized firearm custodian as a security and as a commitment to comply with all the
existing laws and regulations as defined in this IRR;

3.13.2 Firearm Bond – refers to the bond duly issued by an authorized insurance
company as part of the registration of firearms to a licensed citizen or a licensed
juridical entity;

3.13.3 Surety Bond – refers to the bond duly issued by an authorized Surety Company
to firearm dealer, manufacturer or gunsmith.

3.14 Company Guard Force – refers to a security force maintained and operated by

any private company/corporation utilizing its authorized employees to watch, secure or
guard its business establishment premises, compound or properties;

3.15 Confiscated Firearm – refers to a firearm that is taken into custody by the PNP,
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
and all other law enforcement agencies by reason of their mandate and must be
necessarily reported or turned over to the FEO;

3.16 Conversion – refers to an act of assembling and combining parts of firearms

designed and intended for use in converting a firearm action/mode and/or from one
caliber to another;

3.17 Conversion kit – refers to firearm parts used to enhance the operational

capability of a firearm from semi-automatic burst to fully automatic mode and/or burst
and vice versa;

3.18 CSG – refers to the Civil Security Group of the Philippine National Police.

3.19 Demilitarized firearm – refers to a firearm deliberately made incapable of

performing its main purpose of firing a projectile;

3.20 Duty Detail Order – refers to a document issued to a person by the juridical entity
or employer wherein the details of the disposition of firearm is spelled-out, thus
indicating the name of the employee, the firearm information, the specific duration and
location of posting or assignment and the authorized bonded firearm custodian for the
juridical entity to whom such firearm is turned over after the lapse of the order;

3.21 FEO – refers to the Firearms and Explosives Office of the Philippine National
Police;
3.22 Firearm – refers to any handheld or portable weapon, whether a small arm or light
weapon, that expels or is designed to expel a bullet, shot, slug, missile or any projectile
which is discharged by means of expansive force of gases from burning gunpowder or
other form of combustion or any similar instrument or implement. For purposes of the
law, the barrel, frame or receiver is considered a firearm;

3.23 FEO Classification Board (FCB) – refers to the FEO classification body with a
regulatory role to classify firearms, ammunition, explosives, explosives ingredients and
other regulated items prior to sale, distribution and/or exhibition to ensure that such
items conform to existing laws and regulations.

3.24 FEO License Revocation and Restoration Board (FLRRB) – refers to the FEO
board with a regulatory function to study, review, validate and recommend the
correction, deletion, revocation, cancellation, suspension or restoration of all issued
licenses, registrations and permits relative to firearms and explosives through a
Resolution.

3.25 Firearms Information Management System (FIMS) – refers to a computerized

system that establishes a database of the licensee and the registered firearms
information and generates reports which include the printing of license and certificate of
registration and disposition;

3.26 Firearm Registration Card – refers to the card issued by the FEO as proof that
the firearm is duly registered and recorded at the FIMS of the FEO;

3.27 Forfeited Firearm – refers to a firearm that was forfeited by reason of court order
as accessory penalty or for the disposition of firearms considered as abandoned,
surrendered, confiscated or revoked in compliance with existing rules and regulations
by the FEO;

3.28 Full Automatic or Fully Automatic – refers to the firing mode and action of a
firearm in which discharge of the entire magazine load with a single pull of its trigger is
continuous until the triggering device is disengaged;

3.29 Government Guard Unit – a security unit whose members have permanent
plantilla positions in the government, maintained and operated by any government entity
other than military or police, which is established and maintained for the purpose of
securing the office or compound and/or extension of such government entity;

3.30 Gun Club – refers to an organization with at least fifteen (15) licensed citizens as
members, duly registered with and authorized by the FEO which is established for the
purpose of propagating gun safety and responsible gun ownership, proper appreciation
and use of firearms by its members, for the purpose of sports and shooting competition,
self-defence and collection purposes;

3.31 Gun Collector – refers to a licensed citizen who collects registered firearms;

3.32 Gunsmith – refers to any person, legal entity, corporation, partnership or business
duly licensed by the FEO to engage in the business of repairing firearms and other
weapons, or constructing or assembling firearms and weapons from finished or
manufactured parts thereof on a per order basis and not in commercial quantities, or of
making minor parts for the purpose of repairing or assembling said firearms or
weapons;

3.33 Imminent Threat – refers to an indication of something impending and usually

undesirable or unpleasant which may inflict evil, injury or damage to another, usually as
retribution or punishment for something done or left undone. It is a manifestation of an
intention to inflict loss or harm upon another by illegal means and especially by involving
coercion, duress or use of force over a person or his/her welfare;

3.34 Imitation Firearm – refers to a replica of a firearm, or other device that is so

substantially similar in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm as to
lead a reasonable person to believe that such imitation firearm is a real firearm;

3.35 Indentor – refers to an individual or entity with an exclusive contract to facilitate

the procurement of firearms, ammunition, spare parts and/or accessories in behalf of
the AFP/PNP, law enforcement agency and/or other government agencies;

3.36 Indent License to Deal or Indentor’s License – refers to a written authority

granted by the Chief, PNP through the Chief, FEO to an indentor, indicating therein the
number, types of firearms, ammunition, spare parts and accessories to be purchased.

3.37 Integrated Firearms Identification System (IFIS) – refers to a computerized

firearms identification system used to capture and store into the database unique
identifying characteristics of bullets and cartridge cases for forensic comparison and
identification of a particular firearm;

3.38 Legal Disability – refers to a condition of a person who lacks the legal

qualification or capacity, such as that of a minor or a mentally impaired person;

3.39 Letter Order (LO) or Mission Order (MO) – refers to a written directive or order
issued by authorized Head of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to government
employee/s with regular plantilla position under his/her supervision and control. Such
order shall indicate the purpose of the mission, name of the employee, the firearm
information, the specific duration and the place or places within the jurisdiction of the
issuing authority allowing the bearer thereof to carry his/her government-issued firearm
within their jurisdiction and shall be strictly limited to the law enforcement mandate of
the agency concerned.

3.40 Licensed Antique Firearm Collector – refers to any individual or entity duly

licensed by the Chief, FEO on behalf of the Chief, PNP who legally acquires, owns,
possesses, or disposes of antique firearms as defined in this IRR;
3.41 Licensed Citizen – refers to any Filipino duly issued with a license to own and
possess or carry firearms outside of the residence in accordance with this IRR;

3.42 License to Deal (LTD) – refers to the license granted by the Chief, PNP to a
qualified dealer to engage in the business of buying and selling ammunition, firearms or
parts thereof, at wholesale or retail basis;

3.43 Licensed Juridical Entity – refers to corporations, organizations, businesses

including security agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs) which are licensed to
own and possess firearms in accordance with this IRR;

3.44 License to Manufacture (LTM) – refers to the license granted by the Secretary of

the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to a qualified manufacturer to
engage in the business of manufacturing firearms, and ammunition or parts thereof for
purposes of sale or distribution;

3.45 License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) – refers to a written authority
granted by the Chief, PNP through the Chief, FEO to a qualified individual for him/her to
own and possess a firearm in accordance with this IRR;

3.46 Licensed Sports Shooter – refers to a licensed citizen who actively participates
in sports shooting competition;

3.47 Light Weapons are: Class-A Light weapons which refer to self-loading pistols,
rifles, carbines, submachine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns not exceeding
caliber 7.62MM which have fully automatic mode; and Class-B Light weapons which
refer to weapons designed for use by two (2) or more persons serving as a crew, or
rifles and machine guns exceeding caliber 7.62MM such as heavy machine guns,
handheld under barrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns,
portable anti-tank missile and rocket systems, portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile
systems, and mortars of a caliber of less than 100MM;

3.48 Long Certificate of Registration (LCR) – refers to a regular license to own and
possess firearms issued to government agencies or offices or Government-Owned or
Controlled Corporations;

3.49 Long Regular Registration (LRR) – refers to a regular license to own and
possess firearms issued to private firms, establishments, corporations or private
security agencies.

3.50 Loose Firearm – refers to an unregistered firearm, an obliterated or altered

firearm, firearm which has been lost or stolen, illegally manufactured firearms,
registered firearms in the possession of an individual other than the licensee and those
with revoked licenses in accordance with the rules and regulations;
3.51 Major Parts or Components of a Firearm – refer to the barrel, slide, frame,
receiver, cylinder or the bolt assembly. The term also includes any part or kit designed
and intended for use in converting a semi-automatic burst to a full automatic firearm;

3.52 Mill Run Parts – refer to semi-finished materials oftentimes called castings or

forgings, or blank and cup with a partly rough shape and still needs machining work by
mills, lathes or press machines to refine and give the desired final product as firearm
parts or ammunition components;

3.53 Minor Parts of a Firearm – refer to the parts of the firearm other than the major
parts which are necessary to effect and complete the action of expelling a projectile by
way of combustion, except those classified as accessories;

3.54 Permit to Carry Firearm Outside of Residence (PTCFOR) – refers to a written

authority issued to a licensed citizen by the Chief, PNP which entitles such person to
carry his/her registered or lawfully issued firearm outside of the residence for the
duration and purpose specified in the authority;

3.55 Permit to Transport (PTT) Firearm – refers to a written authority issued to a

licensed citizen or a licensed juridical entity by the Chief, PNP through the Chief, FEO
or by the PNP Regional Director (RD) which entitles such person or entity to transport
particular firearm/s from and to a specific location, within the duration and purpose in
the authority;

3.56 Private Individual – refers to licensed citizen and licensed juridical entity as used
in Section 10 of this IRR.

3.57 Residence of the Licensee – refers to the place or places of abode of the
licensed citizen as indicated in his/her license;

3.58 Residence of the Firearm/s – refers to the location where the firearm/s shall be
kept and as indicated in the firearm registration card;

3.59 Serviceable Firearm – refers to the condition in which a firearm can still be used
for its purpose;

3.60 Shooting Range – refers to a facility established for the purpose of firearms
training and skills development, firearm testing, as well as for sports and shooting
competition either for the exclusive use of its members or open to the general public,
duly registered with and accredited in good standing by the FEO;

3.61 Short Certificate of Registration (SCR) – refers to a certificate granted by the

FEO for a government official or employee with regular plantilla position who was issued
a government-owned firearm covered by the Long Certificate of Registration (LCR);
3.62 Small Arms – refer to firearms intended to be primarily designed for individual use
or that which is generally considered to mean a weapon intended to be fired from the
hand or shoulder, which are not capable of fully automatic bursts of discharge, such as:

3.62.1 Handgun is a firearm intended to be fired from the hand, which includes:

a) Pistol – is a hand-operated firearm having a chamber integral with or permanently

aligned with the bore which may be self-loading; and

b) Revolver – is a hand-operated firearm with a revolving cylinder containing chambers

for individual cartridges.

3.62.2 Rifle – is a shoulder firearm or designed to be fired from the shoulder that can
discharge a bullet through a rifled barrel by different actions of loading, which may be
classified as lever, bolt, or self-loading; and

3.62.3 Shotgun – is a firearm designed, made and intended to fire a number of ball

shots or a single projectile through a smooth bore by the action or energy from burning
gunpowder.

3.63 SOSIA – refers to the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies
of the Philippine National Police;

3.64 Sports Shooting Competition – refers to a defensive, precision or practical

firearm shooting tournament duly authorized by the FEO;

3.65 Tampered, Obliterated or Altered Firearm – refers to any firearm whose serial
number or other identification or ballistic characteristics have been intentionally
tampered with, obliterated or altered without authority or in order to conceal its source,
identity or ownership;

3.66 Thermal Weapon Sight – refers to a battery operated, uncooled thermal imaging
device which amplifies available thermal signatures so that the viewed scene becomes
clear to the operator which is used to locate and engage targets during daylight and
from low light to total darkness and operates in adverse conditions such as light rain,
light snow, and dry smoke or in conjunction with other optical and red dot sights; and

3.67 Unserviceable Firearm – refers to a firearm which is beyond economic repair and

can no longer be used for its purpose;

RULE II

OWNERSHIP AND POSSESSION OF FIREARMS

Section 4. Standards and Requisites for Issuance of and Obtaining a License to

Own and Possess Firearms
Section 5. Ownership of Firearms and Ammunition by a Juridical Entity

Section 6. Ownership of Firearms by the National Government

Section 7. Carrying of Firearms Outside of Residence or Place of Business

7.11.1 For Members of the PNP, AFP and other LEAs;

7.11.2 For All Other Persons: (including members of the PNP, AFP and other LEAs in

7.13 Authority to Issue Mission Order Involving the Carrying of Firearm

RULE III

REGISTRATION AND LICENSING

Section 8. Authority to Issue License

Section 9. Licenses Issued to Individuals

Section 10. Firearms That May Be Registered

Section 11. Registration of Firearms

Section 12. License to Possess Firearms Necessarily Includes Possession of

Ammunition

Section 13. Issuance of License to Manufacture and Deal in Firearms and

Ammunition

13.2 Authority to Issue License to Manufacture

13.3 Requirements for Issuance of License to Manufacture

13.3.1 For New Application:

13.3.2 For Renewal

13.4 License to Deal

13.1 Requirements for Issuance of License to Deal

13.1.1 For New Application

13.1.2 For Renewal

13.6 Reloading Machines

Section 14. Scope of License to Manufacture Firearms and Ammunition

14.4.1 Requirements for Issuance of Authority to Import

14.6.1 Requirement for Issuance of Authority to Export

14.6.2 Export Permit for sample, demonstration, test and evaluation, and trade
exhibits

Section 15. Registration of Locally Manufactured and Imported Firearms

Section 16. License and Scope of License to Deal

Section 17. License and Scope of License for Gunsmiths

Section 18. Firearms for Use in Sports and Competitions

Section 19. Renewal of Licenses and Registration

Section 20. Inspection and Inventory

RULE IV

ACQUISITION, DEPOSIT OF FIREARMS, ABANDONED, DEMILITARIZED

AND ANTIQUE FIREARMS

Section 21. Acquisition or Purchase and Sale of Firearms and Ammunition

Section 22. Deposit of Firearms by Persons Arriving from Abroad

Section 23. Return of Firearms to Owner upon Departure from the Philippines

Section 24. Safekeeping of Firearms and Ammunition

Section 25. Abandoned Firearms and Ammunition

Section 26. Death or Disability of the Licensee

Section 27. Antique Firearms

RULE V

PENAL PROVISIONS
Section 28. Unlawful Acquisition or Possession of Firearms and Ammunition

Section 29. Use of Loose Firearm in the Commission of a Crime

Section 30. Liability of Juridical Person

Section 31. Absence of Permit to Carry Outside of Residence

Section 32. Unlawful Manufacture, Importation, Sale or Disposition of Firearms or

Ammunition or Parts Thereof, Machinery, tool or Instrument Used or Intended to
be Used in the Manufacture of Firearms, Ammunition or Parts Thereof

Section 33. Arms Smuggling

Section 34. Tampering, Obliteration or Alteration of firearms Identification

Section 35. Use of an Imitation Firearm

Section 36. In Custodia Legis

Section 37. Confiscation and Forfeiture

Section 38. Liability for Planting Evidence

Section 39. Grounds for Revocation, Cancellation or Suspension of License or

Permit

Section 40. Failure to Notify Lost or Stolen Firearm or Light Weapon

Section 41. Illegal Transfer/ Registration of Firearms.

RULE VI

FINAL PROVISIONS

Section 42. Firearms Repository

Section 43. Final Amnesty

Section 44. Authority of the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to Issue
Policies and Guidelines

Section 45. Separability Clause

Section 46. Effectivity