A group advocating sustainable peace in Mindanao urged President Marcos to veto the proposal to shorten the gun ban during elections and two other proposed amendments to the Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

The three proposed amendments are embodied in the House Bill 11539 and Senate Bill 2895 and the Council for Climate and Conflict Action Asia (CCCA) said the move pose serious threats to public safety and peace,

In a statement, the CCCA described the proposal to shorten the gun ban period— from 90 days before election day to just 45 days and from 30 days after election day to just five days— as the most alarming, especially that the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections will be held on Oct. 13 this year.

“It is illogical, if not outright dangerous and risky, to shorten the gun ban when the first-ever Parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro is expected in October 2025,” the CCCA said.

“In fact, a stricter implementation of the gun ban is even more necessary as the region approaches its most decisive, significant, and game-changing elections since the signing of the peace agreement,” it added.

BARMM has been a consistent security headache for police and other security officials and intelligence reports usually point to the region as a playground for private armed groups.

In the Bangsamoro region alone, CCAA data recorded 759 violent incidents between October 2024 and the days following the May 2025 midterm elections. May saw 171 violent incidents, which is more than triple of the 53 violent incidents in April.

The group said the attacks began far earlier than usual—five to eight months before election day—and continue to threaten communities even after the winners were declared.

“Worse, shortening the gun ban contradicts the lived realities of many Filipinos who just endured one of the most violent election cycles in recent memory,” the group said.

For the CCAA, the decision and duty to amend the gun ban period is a Constitutional mandate given to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and is not within the scope of any other law or agency.

The second alarming amendment, according to the CCCA, is the proposed amendments on increasing ammunition purchase limits and extending the validity of permits to carry firearms.

“This should be complemented with strict requirements and regular monitoring. More ammunition opens up more spillage into illegal markets. Stringent regulatory measures must be in place first if they will allow an increase in ammunition purchase and longer periods for the permit to carry firearms,” the statement read.

“It must be ensured that these revisions are not feeding the interests of those who want to use their weapons whenever they need to,” it added.

And third, the CCCA urged Marcos and the Congress to focus firearms policy direction towards strengthening the national campaign against illegal firearms, which number over 3.2 million as of 2018.

“Currently, the proposed bill contains amendments that are steps backward for peace, public safety, and democratic stability. We urge the President to act decisively: Veto the bill amending RA 10591 and ask Congress to review its dangerous provisions,” the group said.

Recommendations

In urging the President to veto the three proposed amendments, the CCCA also recommended these measures to be incorporated in the law:

1. Establish a dedicated implementing unit: Creation of a dedicated PNP unit or a Joint Task Force to combat illicit firearms trafficking and possession;

2. Strengthen firearms registration in the Bangsamoro: Start dismantling ceasefire mechanisms that pose barriers against regulation of MILF firearms and create municipal level one-stop shops for the registration of weapons excluded from the decommissioning process;

3. Implement immediate destruction of confiscated illegal firearms: Consolidate all confiscated illegal firearms from law enforcement agencies and allocate a portion of licensing revenues for immediate destruction and smelting to prevent recirculation of illegal firearms; and;

4. Impose stiffer penalties: Increase penalties for perpetrators of gun-related violence, firearms law, and those involved in the sale, transfer, and transport of illegal firearms

“These proposed amendments aim to create concrete mechanisms that will curtail the proliferation of illegal firearms and promote public safety especially in conflict-affected areas,” the CCCA said,