AN ACT REDUCING THE PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF BLADED, POINTED OR BLUNT WEAPONS
(B.P. BLG. 6)

AN ACT REDUCING THE PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF BLADED, POINTED OR BLUNT WEAPONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NUMBERED NINE.

Historical reader: The four sections below match B.P. Blg. 6 (approved 21 November 1978) as quoted in People v. Bercadez, G.R. No. 265123, 29 July 2024. B.P. Blg. 6 amended paragraph 3 of Presidential Decree No. 9. Bercadez held that the amendment did not remove the required connection to subversion, rebellion, insurrection, lawless violence, criminality, chaos or public disorder. In Managuelod v. People, G.R. No. 261612, 14 August 2024, the Court said B.P. Blg. 6 was no longer applicable because its martial-law rationale had ceased; Miranda v. People, G.R. No. 261412, 29 October 2025, quoted that statement and distinguished the separate election-law offense. This text should not be read as a general current ban on carrying knives.

Be it enacted by the Batasang Pambansa in session assembled:

SECTION 1. — Paragraph three of Presidential Decree Numbered Nine is hereby amended to read as follows:

"3. It is unlawful to carry outside of one's residence any bladed, pointed or blunt weapon such as 'knife', 'spear', 'pana', 'dagger', 'bolo', 'barong', 'kris', or 'chako', except where such articles are being used as necessary tools or implements to earn a livelihood or in pursuit of a lawful activity. Any person found guilty thereof shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than one month nor more than one year or a fine of not less than Two Hundred Pesos nor more than Two Thousand Pesos, or both such imprisonment and fine as the Court may direct."

SEC. 2. — Article twenty-two of the Revised Penal Code shall apply to persons previously convicted under paragraph three of Presidential Decree Numbered Nine.

SEC. 3. — Any law or ordinance which is inconsistent herewith is hereby repealed.

SEC. 4. — This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: November 21, 1978