What the law amends: licensing security
- Section 1 amends Section 887 of Act No. 2711 (Revised Administrative Code).
- A person who desires to possess one or more firearms for personal protection, hunting, or other lawful purposes only, together with the ammunition, must apply for a license to possess such firearm(s) and ammunition.
- Before receiving the license, the applicant must provide security by doing one of the following:
- Deposit a United States or Philippine Government bond, or
- Make a cash deposit in the Postal Savings Bank in the amount of forty pesos for each firearm to be licensed, and endorse the certificate of deposit to the Philippine Treasurer, with the deposit bearing no interest, or
- Give a personal or property bond signed by two persons or by a surety company, in a form prescribed by the President, payable to the Government of the Philippines, in the amount of one hundred pesos for each firearm.
- Section 1 provides a continuity rule for existing bonds after approval of the Act:
- Existing bonds continue as they are, or
- At the option of the interested party, existing bonds may be renewed under the Act’s provisions.
- Section 1 grants an exemption for certain gun club members:
- Bona fide and active members of duly organized gun clubs, accredited by the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army, are not required to make the deposit or give the bond prescribed in Section 887.
Defined licensing purpose and applicant
- The licensing requirement under Section 887 applies to applicants who seek to possess firearms for personal protection, hunting, or other lawful purposes only.
- The security requirement applies at the time of application and must be satisfied before receiving the license.
- The law expressly covers possession of firearms and ammunition in connection with the application and licensing.
Fees for firearms licenses
- Section 2 amends Section 3 of Act No. 3997 by establishing initial and annual firearms license fees for holders of a license to possess a firearm under Section 888 of the Administrative Code, as amended.
- For each shotgun held under license:
- Initial fee: PHP 10.00
- Annual fee: PHP 5.00
- For each high-power rifle held under license:
- Initial fee: PHP 15.00
- Annual fee: PHP 5.00
- For each revolver held under license, except caliber twenty-two revolver:
- Initial fee: PHP 10.00
- Annual fee: PHP 5.00
- For each rifle held under license, except caliber twenty-two rifles:
- Initial fee: PHP 10.00
- Annual fee: PHP 5.00
Exemptions from firearm fee rates
- Section 2 provides an exception for bona fide and active members of duly organized gun clubs, accredited by the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army:
- Such members pay an initial fee of PHP 5.00 and an annual fee of PHP 2.00 for each firearm held on license.
- Section 2 states that caliber twenty-two revolver or caliber twenty-two rifle is treated as “exempted therefrom” for the special gun-club fee reduced rates.