Executive Order No. 817

MALACAÑANG

Manila

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 817

PROVIDING FOR THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENSIFIED CAMPAIGN AGAINST

LOOSE FIREARMS

WHEREAS, the pursuit of peace and order has always been a past

government concern;

WHEREAS, the proliferation of loose firearms has remained as crucial

obstacle in the fight against criminality;

WHEREAS, as of May 2009, the Loose Firearms Estimate of the

Philippine National Police (PNP) show that there are an estimated One Million

One Hundred Ten Thousand Two Hundred Seventy Seven (1,110,277) loose

firearms nationwide: 559,326 firearms have expired/unrenewed licenses, 15,676

firearms are with threat groups, 5,762 firearms are with the criminal elements and

529,550 unregistered firearms are with the general population;

WHEREAS, statistics also show that from2004-2008, ninety seven

percent (97%) of all the crime incidents involving firearms were committed using

loose/unregistered firearms;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the duty of the state to protect its citizens and

maintain peace and order, there is a need to implement a National Firearms

Control Program that would reduce the number of loose firearms by an average

of three percent (3%) a month through the through aggressive continuing law

enforcement actions, to include a general amnesty for loose firearms;

WHEREAS, all loose firearms holders, be they with expired licenses

and/or unregistered firearms, shall be encouraged and be given an opportunity to

obtain the required firearms licenses through the Final General Firearms

Amnesty;

WHEREAS, this would reduce the chance of loose firearms being used in

election related crimes which may derail the realization of a peaceful, orderly and

credible electoral exercise in 2010;

WHEREAS, there is a need to synchronize the efforts of the PNP, the

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and all other Law Enforcement Agencies

to ensure success of this intensified campaign against loose firearms.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the

Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do

hereby order this intensified campaign against loose firearms:

SECTION 1. The AFP, NBI, BOC, the Philippine Ports Authority, the Philippine

Drug Enforcement Agency as well as all other Law Enforcement Agencies are

hereby mandated to conduct continuing and intensified law enforcement actions,

independently or jointly with the PNP, to confiscate and seize all loose firearms;

SECTION 2. A Final General Firearms Amnesty will be implemented for a period

of one month, from October 1 to 30, 2009. All individual and juridical entities may

renew their expired licenses and/or register their unregistered firearms with the

PNP.

SECTION 3. The PNP Chief shall issue such Implementing Rules and

Regulations (IRR) to effectively carry out the intents of the Final General

Firearms Amnesty, subject to the approval/concurrence of the Secretary of the

Interior and Local Government.

SECTION 4. The National Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee

(NALECC), in coordination with other concerned government agencies, shall

review existing firearms laws and regulations and propose necessary

amendments to institute an effective National Firearms Control Program.

SECTION 5. All orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof

inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified

accordingly.

SECTION 6. This order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 7th day of July in the year of Our Lord, Two

Thousand and Nine.

By the President:

EDUARDO R. ERMITA

Executive Secretary