LEST you get into deep legal trouble, avoid bringing guns—not even toy pistols and other firearms replicas—while on plane travel.
The Police Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) reminds the public that the gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections remains in effect until June 12, 2025. This ban prohibits the transport of firearms and gun replicas.
This reminder came on the heels of the arrest of a departing passenger at Tacloban airport who was found carrying a gun replica, specifically a Heckler & Koch MP5 firearm, complete with a magazine in his baggage.
The passenger, who was bound for Manila, is now in police custody and has been charged with violating Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, in relation to Comelec Resolution No. 11067.
Recently, airport authorities also intercepted a Japanese national at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport – Terminal 1 after discovering a firearm in his baggage.
The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) stated that the foreigner was scheduled to fly to Kansai on Philippine Airlines flight PR-408 when a screening officer noticed a suspicious image of a firearm on the X-ray monitor.
The Avsegroup subsequently conducted a manual inspection of the baggage, resulting in the discovery of the loaded pistol with seven rounds of ammunition.
Following standard operating procedures, the incident was documented, and the firearm handed over to Avsegroup.
The Department of Transportation has also included toy guns and replicas in its list of prohibited items. Even outside the Comelec Gun Ban period, possession of such items may result in being offloaded from a flight or arrested.