Civilian gun owners can now own and register 7.62mm semi-automatic rifles, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
At a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo addressed concerns regarding the ownership of 5.56mm and 7.62mm-long firearms by civilians. Civilians were permitted to own rifles before the passage of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition Regulation, she noted.
With almost 704,000 loose guns based on its record, Fajardo said the decision would actually pave the way for the police to encourage gun owners to register their semi-automatic rifles.
And the process that a person undergoes to secure a License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) alone, including drug test and neuro-psychiatric test, is somehow a guarantee that the firearms would not fall on wrong hands—aside of course from law enforcement operation in worse case scenarios.
Upon enactment of Republic Act 10591, civilian ownership of rifles was prohibited although they were allowed to license and sell them, she added.
A technical working group was formed to study the possibility of amending certain provisions related to the function and authority of PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr.
Minor amendments were made to the implementing rules and guidelines, particularly in section 36.6, allowing private citizens to license semi-automatic rifles, specifically those chambered in 7.62 or lower, Fajardo said.
Upon enactment of Republic Act 10591, civilian ownership of rifles was prohibited although they were allowed to license and sell them, she added.
A technical working group was formed to study the possibility of amending certain provisions related to the function and authority of PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr.
Minor amendments were made to the implementing rules and guidelines, particularly in section 36.6, allowing private citizens to license semi-automatic rifles, specifically those chambered in 7.62 or lower, Fajardo said.
