Remulla pushes 20-year prison term, no bail for illegal possession of loose firearms

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 26, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla is urging Congress to impose up to 20 years in prison and make illegal possession of loose firearms a non-bailable offense as the government moves to tighten gun laws following recent school shootings.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Tuesday that stronger penalties must be accompanied by greater accountability among licensed gun owners, particularly in keeping firearms away from unauthorized individuals.

Remulla said existing penalties have made it easier for people caught with loose firearms to post bail. He cited government figures showing that 98% of gun crimes involve loose firearms, although the figure was presented by Remulla and the DILG and should be understood as their reported data.

“I am asking Congress to take steps to make it non-bailable, and to make it 20 years,” Remulla said in an ANC interview on Monday.

He has also called for a review of Republic Act No. 8294, a 1997 law that amended penalties for illegal possession, manufacture, acquisition and disposition of firearms and ammunition. Remulla argued that the law’s reduced penalties and availability of bail weakened safeguards against loose firearms.

The DILG chief also wants authorities to review policies covering government-issued firearms and strengthen accountability for licensed gun owners whose weapons become accessible to other people, particularly minors.

The proposal follows two school shootings involving firearms that investigators said were obtained from adults.

In the recent Ateneo de Zamboanga University shooting, investigators found that the minor shooter used firearms belonging to his father, a Bureau of Customs employee. One was government-issued while another was personally licensed. The firearms were allegedly left inside a vehicle where the minor was able to access them.

A separate school shooting in Tacloban City involved a minor who allegedly used a Glock pistol issued to his aunt, a police officer. The DILG earlier said authorities were investigating the accountability of the adults whose firearms became accessible to the minors.

Remulla said policies covering hundreds of thousands of government personnel issued with firearms must be reassessed to prevent similar incidents.

“We have to go over all our policies with the uniformed personnel and let them realize the gravity of the situation that is happening,” he said.