House panel OKs bill fixing validity of firearm license

The House committee on public order and security approved the substitute bill for the measures seeking to fix the validity of a firearm license. 

The substitute bill for House Bills 3895, 5127, 5674, 6109, 6912, 8055 and 8271 and Senate Bill 1155 was approved during a panel meeting on Tuesday. The committee report was also approved by the committee.

Panel chairman Representative Narciso Bravo Jr. said the substitute bill grants a License To Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) and firearm registration with a five or 10-year validity.

"We have come up with a revised substitute bill that allows gun owners to secure their LTOPF and firearm registration with a five-year or 10-year validity reckoned from the birth date of the licensee and extends the validity of the permit to carry to two years from two date of application," Bravo said.

"This is a very important bill considering the proximity of the election period. We have a very limited window or opportunity to act on this as we are all busy preparing for the elections," he added.

According to Bravo, the measure also pushes the Philippine National Police-Firearms and Explosives Office to issue only one card that already contains both the license and firearm registration.

During the panel meeting, the periodic conduct of a neuropsychiatric examination to determine if  the person is fit to hold and possess firearms was discussed.

Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves pointed out that the periodic conduct of tests only adds burden to the PNP and to the applicant.

"Lagyan na lang natin ng colatilla that it is revocable or until revoked. Your LTOFP is lifetime until revoked. If there's any question [about] your sanity... may magreklamo lang then that's when you get a test," Teves said.

(Let's put a colatilla that it is revocable or until revoked. Your LTFOP is lifetime until revoked. If there's any question or complaint about your sanity, then that's when you get a test.)

The panel then agreed to have the neuropsychiatric examination only during the application and renewal of the license and the registration.

The provisions under this substitute bill, however, are still subject to the comments of PNP chief Police Lieutenant General Dionardo Carlos. — VBL, GMA News