Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla urged Congress to strengthen the country's laws on responsible gun ownership, pointing to gaps that prevent authorities from holding firearm owners criminally liable when their weapons are used by others in deadly crimes.
Remulla cites infirmities in current laws
In a press conference at Camp Crame on Thursday, June 25, 2026, Remulla highlighted what he called “infirmities” in existing regulations, exposed by the fatal shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22. Two minors, aged 14 and 15, were involved in the incident.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief said current laws impose only limited liability on gun owners whose firearms are used by unauthorized individuals, even in cases resulting in loss of life.
Limited liability for gun owners
“I notice a few infirmities of the law which I will recommend Congress to revise. There are millions of gun owners in the Philippines but the culpability of gun owners is very limited. In the Tacloban incident, if the gun belongs to a private owner, the owner faces only civil liability and no criminal liability. I believe that every gun owner has a corresponding responsibility to properly secure and safeguard their firearm,” said Remulla in a mix of Tagalog and English.
“In the case of the 14-year-old who used the service firearm of a police officer, the only charge is malversation. Under the law, there is no criminal liability for the gun owner. But for me, there should be. If you own a firearm, you have the responsibility to secure it and ensure that no one else can access it,” he added.
Proposed amendments and accountability
Remulla urged advocates of responsible gun ownership to collaborate with the government in crafting amendments that introduce stronger accountability measures. He proposed revisions to the implementing rules and regulations governing firearm ownership and called for the inclusion of criminal penalties for negligent handling, illegal transfer, or unauthorized use of licensed firearms.
The DILG chief maintained that stronger safeguards on firearm ownership could help prevent similar incidents in the future.
Juvenile justice framework under scrutiny
Beyond firearm regulations, Remulla also urged lawmakers to revisit the country's juvenile justice framework following the incident. He argued that current provisions of the juvenile justice law can be exploited by young offenders who are aware of the legal protections afforded to minors.
While some sectors have previously proposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility, Remulla said the discussion should focus less on age and more on a minor's awareness and intent.
Sympathy for victims
Remulla expressed sympathy to the families of those killed in the shooting, describing the tragedy as “preventable.” “Tragic as it may seem, it could have been prevented if we passed the right laws and amended the framework on gun ownership,” he said.
