On this eve of the 38th Anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines, we recall with outrage how one of the first acts the dictator Ferdinand Marcos’s was to proclaim that all persons shall not posses or carry any firearm outside of residence. The alleged basis was lawless terrorism, open rebellion, and assassinations of government officials – all of which were later proven to be false, fabricated, and concocted – which sounds chillingly similar to recent orders today by the PNP tightening rules on firearms. Nevertheless, the infamous General Order N. 6 was used by the Military and Philippine Constabulary as a basis to order the surrender and confiscation of all privately owned firearms in the Philippines.

GENERAL ORDER No. 6

WHEREAS, Proclamation No.1081, dated September 21, 1972, declaring a state of martial law throughout the land was issued because of wanton destruction of lives and property, wide- spread lawlessness and anarchy, and chaos and disorder now prevailing throughout the country, which condition has been the in- tended consequences of the activities of groups of men now actively engaged in criminal conspiracy to seize political and state power in the Philippines and to take over the Government by force and violence the extent of which has now assumed the proportion of an actual war against our people and their legitimate Government;

WHEREAS, terroristic activities, assassination of innocent citizens and leaders of our society are going on unabated due to the mounting efforts of those radical and lawless elements who are now actively challenging and defying the Government through actual military confrontation; and

WHEREAS, in order to restore the tranquility and stability of the nation and secure the people from violence, injuries and loss of lives in the quickest possible manner and time, it is necessary to prohibit the inhabitants of the country from keeping any firearm without a permit duly and legally issued for that purpose as well as to prohibit the carrying of such firearm outside the residence of the duly licensed holder thereof;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No.1081 dated September 21, 1972, do hereby order that henceforth and until otherwise ordered by me or by my duly designated representative, no person shall keep, possess or carry outside of his residence any firearm unless such person is duly authorized to keep, possess or carry any such firearm and any person violating this order shall forthwith be arrested and taken into custody and held for the duration of the emergency unless ordered released by me or by my duly designated representative.

Done in the City of Manila, this 22nd day of September in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-two.lawphil.net