PNP: Ok to arm kapitans if
THE Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) said the request of the barangay chairmen in Pangasinan to be armed is possible under circumstances provided by law.
This was the reaction of P/Supt. Jackie Candelario, deputy police provincial; director for operations, to the request of barangay chairmen in Pangasinan manifested by their provincial federation head Board Member Jinky Zaplan amid growing number of their members being killed in the government’s war on drugs.
“First of all, we are not against this as long as it is permitted by law. And not all barangay chairmen must be armed,” Candelario said, adding that some barangay officials are known to be involved in illegal drugs.
He said only those under a clear threat should be allowed to carry firearms or request for firearms,” said Candelario Thursday during KBP Forum.
He suggested that set guidelines could be drawn up for those who want to be armed, and possibly to be covered by an ordinance approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
He pointed out that barangay chairmen who have pending cases, criminal or civil, and for illegal drugs, and those proven to have bad behaviors or are drinking intoxicating liquor, cannot be issued permit to own or carry firearms.
The guidelines in a proposed ordinance, he said, must specify on who should be armed, how and where they intend to use it, whether they can bring their firearms outside their villages, he said.
In the 2007, all the barangay chairmen were issued a shotgun each by the provincial government for their protection and their constituents from troublemakers and cattle rustlers.
But before every election, the barangay chairmen were directed to turn these over to police stations near them for safekeeping in observance of the gun ban.
The last time the shotguns were deposited with the police was in 2013 but these were never returned since the permits had already expired.
Zaplan said the Liga is prepared to officially donate the shotguns to the Pangasinan police. Instead, she said they will ask Gov. Amado Espino III to buy them new firearms they can use for self defense. (Leonardo Micua)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
