Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla is advocating for stricter firearm safety laws, including granting the Philippine National Police (PNP) legal authority to inspect the homes of registered gun owners to verify proper storage.
Remulla argued that gun ownership is a regulated privilege rather than an absolute right, asserting that state authorities must be allowed to enter residences to confirm compliance with safety regulations.
The push comes following recent shootings involving schools and youth, where minors or unauthorized individuals accessed improperly stored firearms, some of which belonged to government personnel.
To enforce compliance, Remulla is urging Congress to pass legislation holding gun owners criminally liable if negligent storage leads to unauthorized access and subsequent violent incidents.
Additionally, the Interior chief is calling for stiffer penalties against illegal, unregistered, or “loose” firearms, proposing prison terms of up to 20 years depending on the offense.
The proposed measures are part of a broader administration strategy to tighten firearms regulation, curb gun violence, and enforce strict accountability among licensed owners.