The Senate on Thursday passed on final reading the measure seeking to penalize acts of wilful and indiscriminate discharge of firearms including by those authorized to bear arms.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, chairperson of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2501 or an Act Penalizing Wilful and Indiscriminate discharge of firearms, amending Act no. 3815, or the Revised Penal Code was approved on third reading with 21 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and no abstention.

“Despite the various provisions under the Revised Penal Code penalizing illegal discharge of firearms, offenders are not deterred in the commission of the crime. As such, there is a need to introduce a more severe punishment to thwart the occurrence of these incidents,” Dela Rosa said when he sponsored the bill.

Under the bill, any person found guilty of wilfully and indiscriminately discharged any firearms or other device that may not have been designed as firearms but can be functionally used as a firearm shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period "unless the facts of the case can be held to constitute any other offenses of which a higher penalty is prescribed."

The bill also penalizes offenders who are members of the military, military auxiliary agencies, or law enforcement agencies authorized to bear arms who may be charged administratively.

The measure also provides for the immediate cancellation and revocation of any license or permit granted to the offender and perpetual disqualification of the offender from being granted such.

“As a former police officer and a responsible gun enthusiast and advocate, the matter of gun ownership and control is very important to me," said the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

"It is my fervent hope, that this proposed measure will be a significant help in order to dissuade the arbitrary, reckless and indiscriminate use of firearms, and promote responsible gun ownership,” Dela Rosa said.

He cited the Investigation and Detective Management of the PNP case monitoring dated November 29, 2021 which showed a total of 195 cases of indiscriminate firing in the country from 2016 to 2021.

Topping the list was Region IV-A or Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (CALABARZON) with 30 incidents, while the National Capital Region (NCR) has 23 incidents.

In all these incidents, 18 were committed by the members of the PNP and eight (8) by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“I am grateful to everyone in this august body who have seen the significance of this measure - a measure that protects and gives importance to the lives of every Filipino. Mr. President, on behalf of the Filipinos who believe in a peaceful Philippines, I thank this august body," the lawmaker said.