MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police on Monday urged the Senate to ratify a House bill seeking to impose stiffer penalties over holders and users of illegal firearms.

PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa called on Senate to ratify House bill 6776, a measure that would impose stiffer penalties for illegal possession of firearms and light weapons, amending some provisions of Presidential Decree 1866.

The bill has been ratified at the House on the third reading.

In the House bill, illegal possession of three or more firearms would become a non-bailable offense that would be punishable by life imprisonment.

The bill also seeks to criminalize other offenses like manufacture, sale, acquisition, and disposition of firearms, ammunition, and explosives, or instruments used in the manufacture of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

The bill also seeks to impose stricter guidelines and grounds for revocation, cancellation, and suspension of firearms licenses and permits.

Verzosa made the appeal to Senate after an American national shot dead the son of a ranking Malacanang official over a traffic altercation Wednesday night.

Police records revealed that Jason Ivler possessed an unlicensed firearm.

"It's high time that law enforcement be given stronger legal foundations to enable us to act decisively with the full might of the law behind us against persons in possession of loose firearms, especially those used in criminal activity," Verzosa said.

Pending the ratification of the House bill, Verzosa said he has ordered all police units across the country to maintain checkpoints to arrest people illegally possessing firearms.