PTFoMS see amended gun law benefiting journalists
BAGUIO CITY (May 19, 2022) – Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), said that Republic Act (RA) No. 11766 recently signed into law by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte which was extended the validity of the license to possess firearms from two years to five or 10 years would “immensely” redound to the benefit of media workers in the country in terms of safety and security.
“Thanks to our President, the new law will surely and immensely benefit our media practitioners who adhere to responsible gun ownership, especially in terms of their personal safety and security. This will also encourage not only journalists but every gun owner to renew their licenses, making it easier for law enforcement agencies to track down loose firearms,”
the frontline government agency dedicated to protect media workers’ executive director said.
RA No. 11766, signed by Duterte on May 6, 2022, amended RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act., by extending the validity of the license to possess firearms and ammunition from the original two years to five or 10 years, “All licenses to possess a firearm, regardless of type or classification, shall be renewed every five years or ten years, at the option of the licensee, which shall be reckoned from the birthdate of the said licensee, unless sooner revoked or suspended,” RA 11766 read.Aside from accredited media practitioners, the new measure now includes elected incumbent and former officials and active and retired military and law enforcement personnel to be exempted from the requirement of the so-called threat assessment certificate.
Egco, a veteran journalist and avid sports shooter, explained that only those media workers who are accredited by legitimate media organizations will be exempted from this requirement, so it would be prudent for our media workers who want to be responsible owners of firearms to seek membership in any of the hundreds of media groups we have today to benefit from the exemption.
As a responsible gun ownership advocate, Egco founded the Association of Responsible Media (ARMED) in 2005. He pointed out that a few years back, he and the lives of his family were saved by being armed for self-defense.
Egco added that this new law is the latest addition to several laws and issuances that were signed by President Duterte that benefited media workers, most recently, Republic Act No. 11699 declaring August 30as the country’s ‘National Press Freedom Day’ In honor of one of our national heroes and considered as the father of Philippine Journalism, Marcelo H. del Pilar.
Egco said other laws and issuances signed by President Duterte to protect media workers include: Administrative Order No. 1 in 2016 creating the PTFoMS under the Office of the President with a devoted mandate to protect media workers, the very first in the world; Executive Order No. 2 which operationalizes in the Executive Branch the people’s constitutional right to information by allowing full public disclosure and transparency in the public service; and Republic Act No. 11458 which expanded the scope of the Philippine Shield law that now includes internet-based mass media
Egco said that the government is also pushing for the passage of the proposed Media Workers Welfare Act (MWWA), a bill that seeks to uplift the economic welfare of media practitioners. The bill grants media workers hazard pay, a living wage, employment security, safety equipment, and additional insurance and hospitalization benefits. PTFoMS actively participated in crafting the bill and lobbying for its passage in Congress.
“These are the reasons why In the recent 2021-2022 “World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development Global Report” released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), highlighted the Philippines as among a very few countries in the world that have undertaken “good practices and positive measures” in the safety of journalists” Egco added.
The UNESCO report cited the establishment by the Duterte Administration of “a special task force for the safety of journalists,” now being emulated in other parts of the world.
Those who were also previously exempted by the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act from the threat assessment certificate are members of the Philippine Bar; certified public accountants; cashiers; bank tellers; priests; ministers rabbis; imams; physicians and nurses; engineers; and businessmen who, by the nature of their business or undertaking, are exposed to high risk of being targets of criminal elements.
The new law mandates that the, “failure to renew the license on or before the date of its expiration shall cause the revocation of the license and of the registration of the firearm or firearms under said licensee.”
As a precaution, “failure to renew the registration of the firearm on or before the date of expiration will cause the revocation of the license of the firearm. The said firearm will be confiscated or forfeited in favor of the government after due process.”
Additionally, “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,” the law said.
All applications for the renewal of the license or registration may be submitted to the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) of the Philippine National Police within six months before the date of the expiration of such license or registration.
Egco, a veteran journalist and avid sports shooter, explained that only those media workers who are accredited by legitimate media organizations will be exempted from this requirement, so it would be prudent for our media workers who want to be responsible owners of firearms to seek membership in any of the hundreds of media groups we have today to benefit from the exemption.
As a responsible gun ownership advocate, Egco founded the Association of Responsible Media (ARMED) in 2005. He pointed out that a few years back, he and the lives of his family were saved by being armed for self-defense.
Egco added that this new law is the latest addition to several laws and issuances that were signed by President Duterte that benefited media workers, most recently, Republic Act No. 11699 declaring August 30as the country’s ‘National Press Freedom Day’ In honor of one of our national heroes and considered as the father of Philippine Journalism, Marcelo H. del Pilar.
Egco said other laws and issuances signed by President Duterte to protect media workers include: Administrative Order No. 1 in 2016 creating the PTFoMS under the Office of the President with a devoted mandate to protect media workers, the very first in the world; Executive Order No. 2 which operationalizes in the Executive Branch the people’s constitutional right to information by allowing full public disclosure and transparency in the public service; and Republic Act No. 11458 which expanded the scope of the Philippine Shield law that now includes internet-based mass media
Egco said that the government is also pushing for the passage of the proposed Media Workers Welfare Act (MWWA), a bill that seeks to uplift the economic welfare of media practitioners. The bill grants media workers hazard pay, a living wage, employment security, safety equipment, and additional insurance and hospitalization benefits. PTFoMS actively participated in crafting the bill and lobbying for its passage in Congress.
“These are the reasons why In the recent 2021-2022 “World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development Global Report” released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), highlighted the Philippines as among a very few countries in the world that have undertaken “good practices and positive measures” in the safety of journalists” Egco added.
The UNESCO report cited the establishment by the Duterte Administration of “a special task force for the safety of journalists,” now being emulated in other parts of the world.
Those who were also previously exempted by the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act from the threat assessment certificate are members of the Philippine Bar; certified public accountants; cashiers; bank tellers; priests; ministers rabbis; imams; physicians and nurses; engineers; and businessmen who, by the nature of their business or undertaking, are exposed to high risk of being targets of criminal elements.
The new law mandates that the, “failure to renew the license on or before the date of its expiration shall cause the revocation of the license and of the registration of the firearm or firearms under said licensee.”
As a precaution, “failure to renew the registration of the firearm on or before the date of expiration will cause the revocation of the license of the firearm. The said firearm will be confiscated or forfeited in favor of the government after due process.”
Additionally, “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,” the law said.
All applications for the renewal of the license or registration may be submitted to the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) of the Philippine National Police within six months before the date of the expiration of such license or registration.
Artemio A. Dumlao
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