The nationwide gun ban in the Philippines quietly ended without ceremonies or press conferences, only a set of data: 3616 people were arrested, 3702 guns were confiscated, and 89 explosives were found. This appears to be a law enforcement achievement, but what is truly alarming is the sheer number of guns hidden in Philippine cities.
The six-month gun ban, which started in January 2025, was implemented to ensure the security of the midterm elections. Nearly a million checkpoints were set up across the country, averaging less than 100 meters apart, initiating a "carpet-style gun search" operation: revolvers, rifles, submachine guns, military ordnance under trucks, rifles in fuel tank compartments... Even active military and police were found illegally armed, resulting in the arrest of 19 soldiers, 21 police officers, as well as city council members, village chiefs, teenagers, and foreigners. The gun ban was not like routine law enforcement, but rather a revelation of an "armed nation."
Although the gun ban has ended, the risks have not been mitigated. The police admit, "We haven't really solved the problem." After the checkpoints are removed, will the guns resurface? The answer is affirmative. Street racing gangs briefly "disappeared," but only out of fear of being checked; once law enforcement loosens, they will inevitably re-emerge.
More concerning is the Philippines' "legal gun ownership" system, which has long been a mere formality. Wealthy individuals launder black guns, small groups buy leaked guns from the military, and even village chiefs and drivers can carry guns under the pretext of "being on duty." Some Chinese nationals call the police, only to find that the other party's gun is legal, turning themselves into suspects. Moreover, logistics trucks suddenly find two revolvers added to their cargo, with no one questioning where the guns came from.
The gun ban was like a band-aid, temporarily sealing the security breach but unable to cure the deep systemic issues. Street racing gangs will return, the black gun trade chain still exists, and arms smuggling has not been substantially impacted. The superficial calm of society is actually maintained by a "temporary high pressure."
For Chinese nationals in the Philippines, the end of the gun ban sounds more like an alarm: Chinese often face language barriers, carry cash habitually, and have no access to effective police help, making them easy targets for street racing gangs. Legal bodyguards roam the streets, seemingly safe but with blurred lines and unpredictable threats.
A Chinese logistics merchant was suddenly checked, and revolvers were "stuffed" into his vehicle; a Chinese person walking at night, dressed nicely, was robbed and then suspected of carrying a gun—this is not fiction, but an ongoing reality.
The 3702 confiscated guns cannot bring real safety. When you see this number and feel momentarily relieved, you should ask yourself: How many more guns are hidden in the dark? More crucially, is the "invisible hand controlling the guns" still at large?
The end of the gun ban is not the start of peace, but the beginning of another round of vigilance. In this environment of free guns, murky law enforcement, and rampant corruption, the real risk is—knowing the danger, yet having no other choice.
