However, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the situation of individuals with "generic threats" on their lives would be considered.
"If at all there would be exemptions, the justifying circumstances will have to be thoroughly validated through a comprehensive threat assessment of the individual seeking exemption," he said.
National Capital Region Police Office chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco said in an interview yesterday he has ordered an intensified crackdown on loose firearms in the metropolis.
"We will be fielding additional police operatives in public places of Metro Manila to fully implement the ban on carrying of loose firearms," he said.
Velasco said he is waiting for Ebdane to release the guidelines on loose firearms, which will cover licensed guns, as part of the ban on gun-toting in public places.
"General Ebdane says he will release his guidelines in two days so we are awaiting a copy of the document to include it in my directive to the district directors," he said.
Licensed firearms must be confined to the residences of gun owners, he added.
Eastern police district director chief Superintendent Rolando Sacramento said he will deploy policemen, not only in nightclubs and entertainment centers, but also in commercial centers and shopping malls.
"I have already directed the police chiefs under my command to conduct ‘Oplan Bakal’ and ‘Oplan Sita’ in their respective areas," he said.
Mrs. Arroyo’s order allows only policemen and soldiers to carry firearms in public, he added.
Ebdane said Mrs. Arroyo has canceled all 31,000 permits to carry firearms outside residence which have been issued to private individuals.
"The order of President Macapagal-Arroyo will be strictly implemented," he said. "The prohibition on the carrying of firearms applies to everybody."
Ebdane said individuals with gun licenses who have been verified to be under "real threats" will be issued permits to carry firearms outside residence.
"What we will consider is if the threat (is real) against the person who is applying for a permit to carry," Ebdane said amid mounting protests from legitimate gun owners who have denounced the President’s order suspending existing permits to carry firearms outside the residence.
Ebdane said the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) on the nationwide gun ban will be issued within the week.
The implementing guidelines of Executive Order 171, which grants a general amnesty for holders of unregistered firearms, are being drafted, he added.
Ebdane said the IRRs will serve as the operational guidelines to be adopted by the PNP in the immediate implementation of EO 171.
Police estimate that there are now 328,000 illegal or unlicensed firearms nationwide, including those whose licenses have expired.
These statistics, however, do not include the locally manufactured guns, popularly known as paltik, which, if completely accounted for, would number over a million.
PNP director for police-community relations Ricardo de Leon heads the IRRs committee, which includes PNP director for operations Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol, Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) chief Senior Superintendent Gerry Barias and FED-Permit to Carry Section chief Superintendent Ricardo Marquez.
The group is expected to come out with their official IRR draft anytime from Monday.
Ebdane instructed the committee to consider all variables and guarantee the smooth implementation of EO 171, as well as ensure coordinated action in all administrative procedures involved in the registration of unlicensed guns during the amnesty period.
Among other concerns that will be defined in the IRR are the scope, duration, effectivity and mechanics of the gun amnesty period.