Duterte’s suggestion to arm anti-crime civilian organizations slammed

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Two progressive solons lambasted President Rodrigo Duterte’s suggestion to arm anti-crime civilian organizations.

According to Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate, Duterte’s idea is “a bloody disaster waiting to happen.”

“If this is allowed, then incidents involving gun abuse — such as Jonel Nuezca in December 2020 and Hensie Zinampan earlier this year — would grow exponentially. This will only worsen the already discredited but bloody ‘nanlaban’ claim of the police,” Zarate said in a statement.

“All policemen and soldiers should instead have bodycams to prevent abuses and not more people carrying guns. There are more productive ways to spend the people’s budget other than this absurd and another militarist proposal,” he added.

Zarate noted that the Duterte administration should focus on efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro said the recommendation would only allow more crimes to happen.

Duterte’s suggestion to arm anti-crime civilian organizations slammed

“President Duterte once again is proposing policies that would only kill more Filipinos instead of solving the roots of the many crises felt in the country. What the people need is for the government to ensure a faster vaccine roll-out and increase testing and tracing capacities to address the worsening health crisis,” Castro said.

“The people need adequate and urgent aid and for the government to solve the worsening economic crisis. When these problems are solved, there would be fewer crimes in the streets. We do not need more guns that pave the way to more vigilante and extra judicial killings,” Castro added.

Last week, Duterte said he is open to the idea of arming civilian groups to help the police force fight crimes.

“If you have this coalition, you have a list of people who are there who can arm themselves. I will order the police if you are qualified, get a gun, and help us enforce the laws,” Duterte said during the launch of the Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy Support Groups and Force Multipliers in Camp Crame.

“Don’t simply make an arrest tapos wala kang…ikaw ang mamatay. You are not supposed to die. A criminal is supposed to die,” Duterte added.

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