The Philippine National Police (PNP) has revoked the license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and ordered the surrender of 117 firearms registered under his name following a move to enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him.

In a revocation order dated Tuesday, May 26, and signed by Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) chief Brig. Gen. Jose Manalad Jr., the police said dela Rosa’s firearms license and registrations were “hereby revoked” pursuant to Section 4, second paragraph, sub-paragraph (g) of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Section 4 of RA 10591 provides the standards and requisites for the issuance of and obtaining an LTOPF. Under sub-paragraph (g), it states that the applicant should not be “convicted or is currently an accused in a pending criminal case before any court of law for a crime that is punishable with a penalty of more than two years.”

The order was issued as dela Rosa continues to evade authorities following an ICC arrest warrant linked to his role in the previous administration's bloody war on drugs.

Records from the PNP-FEO noted that Dela Rosa was a holder of a Type 5 LTOPF—the highest classification for private gun ownership which means he can own and possess more than 15 firearms—originally valid until March 10, 2034.

The agency disclosed that 117 assorted firearms were registered under the name of dela Rosa, and all of these are now ordered to be surrendered.

Manalad directed the Regional Civil Security Unit of Davao Region (RCSU 11) to serve the formal notice of the revocation at Dela Rosa's registered address in Davao City.

The directive explicitly tasks RCSU 11 to “facilitate the immediate confiscation or deposit of the registered firearms under his name for subsequent turnover to the supply accountable officer of the FEO for proper disposition.”

According to the order, the FEO initiated the revocation process through a motu proprio proceeding after the Department of Justice (DOJ) on May 21 ordered both the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to implement the pending ICC warrant against Dela Rosa.

“The filing of this criminal charge constitutes a distinct, independent and sufficient legal ground for the mandatory revocation, cancellation or suspension of any existing firearm license and/or firearm registration issued in favor of the respondent,” the FEO said in the order.

The state regulatory body further rationalized its decision by emphasizing that the government holds the absolute right to pull back gun ownership privileges from individuals facing serious international or domestic prosecution.

“Under applicable firearms laws, rules and regulations, the pendency or institution of criminal proceedings involving offenses that call into question a person’s fitness, integrity, responsibility or capacity to safely possess firearms is sufficient basis for the State, through its regulatory and law enforcement authorities, to withdraw the privilege previously granted to such individual,” it added.

However, the camp of dela Rosa criticized the PNP-FEO's statutory basis, arguing that the police agency is misinterpreting the very law it is trying to enforce.

“The PNP-FEO cited Section 4(g) of R.A. 10591 as the ground for cancelling Senator Dela Rosa’s 118 firearms licenses. There is one problem. Section 4(g) is not a revocation ground,” lawyer Israelito Torreon said in a statement.

The defense lawyer argued that the PNP confused the qualifications needed to acquire a license with the specific grounds required to strip someone of it.

“Read the law. Section 4 is titled ‘Standards and Requisites for Issuance and Obtaining a License.’ It tells you who can GET a license. Section 39 — separately titled ‘Grounds for Revocation’ — tells you when you can LOSE one. They are different sections with different headings for a reason,” Torreon pointed out.

Torreon further emphasized that dela Rosa has not been convicted by any domestic court, nor has a local judge ordered his disarming.

“Section 39 has ten grounds. Pending criminal case before any court? Not one of them. The only criminal-law grounds are: CONVICTION under Section 39(b), and a COURT ORDER under Section 39(j). Senator Dela Rosa has been convicted of nothing. No Philippine court has issued any order against him,” he added.