President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the re-implementation of the “Alunan doctrine,” which limits the number of bodyguards of politicians to prevent violence.
The President asserted that when the number of armed guards of politicians exceeds two, it is considered a private army.
“Kung sino mga kandidato, you limit yourself, and if you think that there is danger to your person in a certain place or a certain person, ipatawag ng (regional director) ‘yan o ipatawag ng chief of police at kausapin na iwasan lang ‘yung away, lalo na ‘yung gamit ng armas,” Duterte said in a public briefing on Monday.
(Whoever candidates, you limit yourself, and if you think that there is a danger to your person in a certain place or a certain person, call that (regional director) or call the chief of police and talk to just avoid those fight, especially the use of weapons.)
During the time of President Fidel Ramos, former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III used the “Alunan doctrine.”
He said he ordered the authorities to enforce it and a warning that it would arrest anyone who violated it.
Duterte: Bodyguards of politicians only up to 2
“Talagang puntahan kita. I will arrest you and your bodyguards. Hindi kami papayag na magkaroon ng terrorism sa election,” Duterte said.
(I’m really going to see you. I will arrest you and your bodyguards. We will not allow there to be terrorism in the election.)
Earlier, Representative Michael Defensor of the Anaklasugan party-list urged Malacanang on Sunday to consider providing Presidential Security Group (PSG) security to former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM), claiming that he is the only major presidential candidate who has received no personal protection from the government because he is not in the office.
Defensor is running for mayor of Quezon City under the slate of BBM.
“The problem with our setup here is that if you are not an incumbent official and you run for president or vice president, you have no government protection at all, unlike in the United States,” Defensor noted.
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