De Venecia on shotguns: Were sectors consulted?
WERE various sectors first consulted by the provincial government before it distributed pump shot guns to each of the province’s 1,330 barangay captains?
Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. of the fourth district posted this question back when asked to give his reaction on the distribution of shotguns to barangay chairmen by Governor Amado Espino Jr.
“I want to find out if consultations were held with church leaders, with political leaders, civil society leaders, and with our friends from the media who are constantly in touch with the people,” De Venecia told newsmen .
The shotguns were distributed by Espino to barangay captains at the PNP Provincial Office in the presence of PNP Police Director Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez.
Nerez said the police chiefs will constantly monitor the use of these shotguns and expressed confidence that barangay chairmen, considered as persons in authority, are responsible enough to take care of these weapons.
The shot guns are properties of the provincial government and issued to barangay captains through memorandum receipts. But before they are issued, they undergo familiarization training and in test-firing.
Some P30 million was appropriated by the provincial board on motion of Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay president Amadeo Espino for the purchase of the shotguns.
De Venecia noted that the recent problem in Mindanao is partly rooted in the lack of consultation or failure of consultation, adding that during the 1996 peace agreement with the Moro National Islamic Liberation Front which he and then President Fidel Ramos negotiated there was no “explosion”.
“This was because we consulted with media, international community, Muslims, Christians and Lumad leaders, and the leaders of the Senate and the House,” he said.
At the same time, De Venecia said he also wants to find out the reason why the provincial government distributed shotguns to barangay captains.
“This might create undue alarm and we might be trying to solve a problem when there is no problem,” De Venecia told newsmen.
Aside from De Venecia, other officials not in conformity with the distribution of shotguns to barangay chairmen is Mayor Hernani Braganza of Alaminos City who has instructed his barangay leaders not to receive the shotguns or return these if they have already received theirs.
Braganza said barangay chairmen in Alaminos do not need shotguns because the peace and order in the city remains excellent.
Retired Colonel Paterno Orduna, one of Espino’s staff members, said it is alright if the barangay chairmen of Alaminos do not want to receive shotguns as instructed by their mayor.—LM
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
