LINGAYEN—About 85 per cent of the 1,330 barangay chairmen (kapitan) of Pangasinan have already received their respective pump shotguns from the provincial government.

Records showed all the barangay captains from the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth congressional districts have already been formally issued their respective shotguns.

Still to be distributed are those for kapitans from the first district of Pangasinan covering Sual, Alaminos City, Mabini, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Agno, Bani, Bolinao and Anda.

The barangay chairmen of Alaminos City have refused to receive their shotguns upon the advice of Mayor Hernani Braganza.

Braganza earlier called on all his barangay chairmen to decline the shotguns as the city’s peace and order situation is under control and there is no need for such weapons.

The position of Braganza was supported by the city council, headed by Vice Mayor Teofilo Humilde Jr., which passed a resolution stating that the shotguns should have been given to the city’s police force which still lacks firearms to this day.

Then, Mayor Domingo Doctor of Burgos, a lawyer and former military officer, followed suit and expressed his own fears that the shotguns could be misused.

Doctor sees the need for more time for barangay captains to be trained on how to be more responsible in handling guns before they are issued the guns.

The distribution of shotguns to barangay chairmen is part of the program of Governor Amado Espino Jr. to maintain peace and order in order in the province.

Meanwhile, Police Provincial Director Isagani Nerez said it is a prudent move on the part of Espino to arm the barangay chairpersons for them to become more effective in their roles as heads of barangay peace and order committees.

He attested that those who had already acquired the shotguns had undergone proper gun handling lecture and actual firing training conducted by the PNP Provincial Police.

The shotguns remain as property of the provincial government with the barangay chairman signing memorandum receipts upon getting their allocation.

The latest batch to receive shotguns was barangay chairmen of Asingan, San Manuel, Sta. Maria and Rosales in the 6th district.

The distribution was made at Camp Narciso Rueca Ramos in Tayug last September 10, where the kapitans underwent pump shotgun marksmanship and familiarization Training.

One barangay chairman, Emelita Bergantiños, of San Angel, Rosales said the shotguns given them are better than the traditional “batuta” (night stick) they were using which in no way can fight criminal elements using deadly weapons.

“Ito ay isang napakagandang programa ng ating mahal na gobernador. Ang pagbibigay ng shotgun ay napakalaking tulong para sa amin upang mapanatiling mapayapa ang aming barangay. Ang mga nagnanais na manggulo ngayon ay magdadalawang isip dahil alam nilang may sandata na kami na panglaban sa kanila”, said Gem Salvador Sapigao, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Asingan.

Meanwhile, a group of disgruntled residents of Barangay Poblacion in Binmaley over the selective distribution of GI sheets are reportedly contemplating to file a complaint against their kapitan for allegedly using the shotgun to intimidate them. — LM

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