MANILA – “Not every barangay official needs to be armed,” said Sen. Richard Gordon.
Gordon, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, supports the idea of arming barangay captains – something President Rodrigo Duterte first broached during a public speech.
Firearms may be provided to barangay officials “in areas with high crime rates, rebellion or insurrection,” said the senator.
“Madami nang napatay na barangay officials,” he stressed. “Give firearms to help them protect themselves and their community.
Duterte had thought equipping barangay officials with shotguns or .22 handguns might get them more engaged in the fight against crimes and illegal drugs.
“Appropriate steps” must be taken before providing barangays officials with weapons, Gordon said.
“The government should not give arms to those in the drug list or those who have criminal records,” he said. “May mga barangay officials din na sympathizers din ng mga leftist rebels o ng mga terrorist groups kaya hindi pwedeng lahat aarmasan.”
Moreover the government must also strictly monitor the distribution and disposition of the firearms, he stressed.
“Dapat pairalin ang mga patakaran sa pagkuha ng lisensya, gaya ng pagkuha ng neuropsychiatric examination, pag-undergo sa gun seminars, at iba pang patakaran para masiguro na magiging responsible ang mga aarmahan,” said Gordon./PN
