The Philippine National Police is considering a lifetime ban on firearms for those who violate the election gun ban, police chief General Rommel Marbil revealed in an ambush interview on Monday, March 31.
This comes after an SUV driver shot three motorcycle riders in Antipolo City, Rizal on Sunday, March 30. One of the motorcycle riders, with the alias “Peter,” died on Monday after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. Police have upgraded the charges against the SUV driver, with the alias “Kenneth,” from frustrated homicide to murder. On top of this, the SUV driver was also found to have violated the election gun ban.
Gun advocacy group Gun Owners in Action (Go Act) is in favor of the proposed policy on the condition that it is fairly implemented.
“Kaming mga responsible gun owners, hawak namin ‘yong mga lisensiya namin ayon sa mga kondisyon ng batas. So kami, sumusunod sa kondisyon ng lisensiya. Kung ‘yon ‘yong penalty, okay lang naman sa amin,” said Go Act Vice general counsel and Vice President Attorney Rod Moreno in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview on Wednesday, April 2. “Ang sa amin lang, sana maging maayos ang pagkatupad ng kondisyon, may due process.”
Moreno added that fair implementation of the proposed lifetime ban would require court convictions. “Dapat siguro may prior court conviction for violation of the election gun ban, ‘yon ‘yong magiging basis,” he said. He added later on that a report from a police checkpoint is insufficient for imposing a lifetime firearms ban on an individual who violates the election gun ban.
Responsible Gun Ownership
Asked if the firearm ban should be limited to violations during the election period, Moreno said, “Hindi lang ‘yan limited sa election period. Ownership of a firearm is a responsibility. Dapat laging nasusundan ang ganoong responsibility, carrying it according to the conditions of law.”
The Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act imposes penalties for the illegal possession of firearms. For those illegally carrying small firearms like pistols and revolvers, imprisonment ranges from 6 years to 12 years. Illegal possession of light weapons like automatic rifles merits 12 years to 20 years in prison. Possession of ammunition without a license is penalized by imprisonment of 6 months to 6 years.
Moreno emphasized that the illegal possession and irresponsible use of firearms remain concerns that a lifetime ban cannot remedy. “The lifetime ban, o ‘yong paghigpit sa aming mga resonsible gun owners, that will not really solve the problem… Usually ‘yong mga gumagamit ng mga baril sa mga ganyan [like the Antipolo shooting incident], mga lawbreakers… Those are illegal guns owned by irresponsible people.”
He said that law enforcement should go after people who carry guns without licenses.
Moreno also said that the process of acquiring a license to carry should be simplified. “The process of securing a license is burdensome, very cumbersome,” he said, adding that new applications and renewals both require annual neuropsychiatric exams. “Nagrereklamo nga kami, paulit-ulit ‘yong psychological exam e.”
An Ineffective Gun Ban
The gun ban was imposed at the beginning of the election period on January 12. The PNP reports that 2,105 have been arrested for violating the gun ban as of Tuesday, April 1. The number includes civilians, foreigners, PNP officers, officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and government officials. 2,198 firearms have also been confiscated, but it is unknown how many of these are loose or unlicensed.
While the gun ban seeks to mitigate crimes during the election period, it has not stopped election-related violence. In 2024, the PNP recorded 120 election-related incidents, but only 12 were validated by the Commission on Elections. Between the filing of certificates of candidacy in October 2024 and December 2024, four candidates participating in local elections were shot dead. And with two months to go before the election period officially ends on June 11, the death toll might still rise.
