Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has rejected the idea of arming the public in a bid to end the communist insurgency in the country, saying it would pose “lots of challenges.”
“I would suggest not arming everyone. Who are the people to be armed? Do we have enough firearms to arm everybody?” Lorenzana told reporters in a text message.
His statement came days after President Rodrigo Duterte said in his speech last week that he was keen on arming every civilian to eliminate the New People’s Army (NPA) throughout the country.
But, Duterte’s Defence secretary was somehow apprehensive with the possible provision of firearms for civilians.
In his speech during the birthday celebration of Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho last Thursday, Duterte said he would allow each civilian and mayor to purchase firearms to help in the campaign to end the NPA rebellion, citing ambushes by the communist rebels of soldiers and policemen.
But, the president added, he was willing to talk peace with them if the insurgents would tone down their attacks on government forces.
Lorenzana said in case the proposal would prosper, proper training must be observed among civilians on how to handle guns before they are released to them. He also said there should be proper control so that civilians and local chief executives would not use the privilege to purchase firearms freely for illegal activities.
“Bottomline, it may not be advisable to arm everybody for all the problems that it may cause,” Lorenzana pointed out.
He said the military already has its Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) and Special Cafgu, who are civilians armed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“The beauty of the Cafgu programme is that (the members) are under the AFP and subject to military justice,” Lorenzana added.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), meanwhile, reminded all local government units not to give in to demands of the NPA rebels for “permit-to- campaign fees,” with the election season having begun last week.
Jonathan Malaya, DILG spokesman, pointed to Memorandum Circular No 2018-211 issued by Interior Secretary Eduardo A?o, reminding all locally elected officials not to provide any form of support to NPA members.
Malaya also warned that local officials supporting the communist rebels financially would suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal if found guilty of violating Republic Act 10168 or the “Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.”
“The DILG may also file other charges pursuant to the Revised Penal Code and other pertinent laws and seek the disqualification of all those candidates who shall be proved to have co-operated with non-state actors in accordance with provisions of the Omnibus Election Code,” he said in a statement.
Delfin Lorenzana
