PRESIDENT Duterte has approved the extension of the validity of the license to possess firearms and ammunition to five to 10 years after signing into law Republic Act (RA) 11766 amending some provisions of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
The President, in signing RA 11766 into law last May 6, allows all licenses to possess a firearm, regardless of type or classification, to be renewed from the current two years to every five years or 10 years, depending on the choice of the licensee. The renewal will be done on or before the birthdate of the licensee.
Failure to renew the license on or before the date of its expiration shall be a cause for the revocation of the license and the registration of the firearm or firearms, as well as the confiscation or forfeiting of firearms in favor of the government after due process.
“The failure to renew a license or registration within the periods stated above on two occasions shall cause the perpetual disqualification of the holder of the firearms from applying for any firearm license,” RA 11766 also read.
The law states that the application for the renewal of the license or registration may be submitted to the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) of the PNP within six months before the date of the expiration of such license or registration.
RA 11766 also provides that the permits to carry the firearms outside of residence will be valid for two years.
The chief of the PNP or the duly authorized representative may issue a permit to carry firearms outside of residence to an individual whose life is under actual threat or is in imminent danger due to the nature of the person’s profession, occupation or business.
The person under threat must prove the actual threat and submit it to the PNP, which will issue a threat assessment certificate within 15 days of the submission of application.
