Firearm Carrying Rules During Martial Law

Proclamation No. 1081 declared a state of martial law throughout the land and served as the governing martial-law context for restricting firearms.
General Order No. 6 (September 22, 1972) and General Order No. 7 (September 23, 1972) prohibited inhabitants from keeping firearms without a duly issued license and from carrying such firearm outside residence of the duly licensed holder.
General Order No. 7-A addresses the specific need to allow certain officials—particularly those involved in enforcement and criminal justice—to perform duties effectively.
The order operates as a targeted adjustment to the general firearms restriction imposed by General Order No. 6 and General Order No. 7.

The order seeks to restore tranquility and stability of the nation and secure the people from violence, injuries and loss of lives through effective enforcement during martial law.
The order is designed so that certain officials can perform effectively their functions and duties by allowing firearm carrying within defined limits.
The order is framed to support enforcement of law and order and administration of criminal justice during martial law.

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation may carry firearms outside residence while in the actual performance of official mission or duty.
Guards of the Bureau of Prisons and guards of provincial and city jails may carry their duly licensed firearms only under the following conditions:
- while within the premises of the prison or jail where they are actually on guard duty; and/or
- while escorting prisoners therefrom to offices of provincial/city fiscals or to military tribunals or civil courts in compliance with subpoena issued for the purpose, followed by return.
The firearm carrying permission granted by the order is tied to official duty and specified movement/escorting circumstances.

The Chief of the Constabulary is required to prescribe regulations deemed necessary for effective implementation of General Order No. 7-A.
The regulations are intended to operationalize how the permitted firearm carrying under this order is applied in practice.

NBI agents are authorized to carry outside residence only while they are in actual performance of official mission or duty.
Prison/jail guards are authorized to carry their firearms only within the prison or jail premises while actually on guard duty, and during subpoena-compliant prisoner escorts to designated legal authorities.
Prison/jail guards must return after escorting prisoners to the specified venues in compliance with subpoena.

The order was done in the City of Manila on September 30, 1972.
It is signed by Ferdinand E. Marcos.
The order is issued by the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the martial-law period under Proclamation No. 1081.