Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 194)
Executive Order No. 194, issued on February 24, 2000, repealed General Order Nos. 7, 7-A, 7-B, and 7-C which authorized certain individuals to possess and carry firearms with specific limitations.
All citizens of the Philippines may possess firearms of any type and/or caliber, provided that such firearms are not classified as crew-served weapons, light anti-tank weapons, light machine guns, recoilless rifles, bazookas, etc., and that they are test-fired for ballistics, stenciled, and properly licensed.
Firearms classified as crew-served weapons (CSWs), light anti-tank weapons (LAWs), light machine guns (LMGs), anti-tank and anti-personnel recoilless rifles, bazookas, and similar weapons are prohibited for possession.
Only uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are authorized to carry their licensed firearms outside their residence while in the actual performance of their official mission or duty.
All other firearm license holders must apply for a Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR) to legally carry their firearms outside their residence.
Section 887 of the Revised Administrative Code provides that any person desiring to possess one or more firearms for personal protection or lawful purposes must apply for a license to possess such firearms and ammunition.
Executive Order No. 194 liberalized firearms possession by allowing all citizens to possess firearms of any type and caliber (except prohibited classes), repealing prior restrictions limiting possession to certain officials and limiting the number of firearms per individual.
Firearms must be test-fired for ballistics, stenciled, and properly licensed to be lawfully possessed according to Section 2 of Executive Order No. 194.
The principal objective is to address the rising threat to peace and order from criminality, insurgency, subversion, and secessionist movements by involving law enforcement agencies and private citizens in crime prevention and maintaining public safety.