Proclamation No. 17, s. 1945

MALACANAN PALACE MANILA

BY TH. PRESIDENT OF THE PHELIPPINES

PROCLAMATION No. 17

DIRSCTING |i SURRENDER OF ALL UNLICENSED FIREARMS AND AMMUNITIONS

WHEREAS, to bolster up the resistance movement against the Japanese invader, a considerable number of firearms was distributed amon: our citizenry, the provisions of the law re-~. garding possession of firearms and ammunitions notwithstanding;

WABSREAS, heretofore, the Government hag purposely re- frained from enforcing said law in order thet the inhabitants could protect thumselves, their families and their respective communities from Japanese stragglers; .

WHERBAS, the surrender of Japan has brought about the cessation of hostilities in the Philippines and the conditions

justifying posseusion of unlicensed firearms and amnunitions have ceased to erist; md

WHEREAS, tho restoration of normal conditions amd of the constitutional funetions of Government, 2s well as the main- tenance of peace and order, require that all laws, more par-~ ticularly, said lew concerning possession of firearms and ammu— nitions, be full, observed and enforced;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, SERGIO OSMENA, President of the Phil-

ippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitus tion and laws ot’ the Philippines, do hereby ordain and direct:

That ony te~son holding or bossessing firearms or ammuni- tions without = vermmit or license therefor Weviously issued by the Provost lk. rshal Generel of the Philippine Arrny shall surrender the saue to the liilitary Commander of the province, or the Chief of Uolice oP the municipality, in which such holder or possessor resides, within thirty days from the date

of the proclamation by the resp ctive Provincial Governor of this Proclamation.

IN VTINESS “MGREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and

x

ss enused the: sen1 ‘of the Commonwealth of hice Pal bappines: to be | q affixed. st j bs * ! Done: at the City of Manila, thie peek Say of Seplanizens |: iG in the year of Qur Lord, nineteen. hundred and ‘forty-five, an

ofthe Commonwealth of the. @ilippines, the teath.

By the President: ff

be RES YAS

ary be the President