Arming village chiefs still in duct

Malacanang is not dropping proposals to arm barangay officials as force multipliers to the police force in addressing criminality.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte has not abandoned the idea.

Roque reiterated the statement when the media asked for reaction about the recent spate of killings of local executives.

“That is why he is contemplating the idea of arming barangay captains so they could be somehow be like force multipliers to our police force. There seems to be a need to heighten the campaign against criminality,” Roque said.

Roque also said Malacanang will proceed with plan to increase pay and professionalize police ranks.

“And based on what we see, we have not been disappointed because they have been very speedy in their investigation of these killings,” Roque said.

The Palace official said the President empathize with concerns of local officials over these killings as he had been a mayor himself.

“It’s unfortunate that some our countrymen seem to be taking politics seriously as some of these killings, based on investigation, are politically-motivated,” Roque said, citing the cases of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote and Trece Martires, Cavite Mayor Alexander Lubigan.

In a speech before a group of barangay chairmen in Central Luzon last month, the President said he would consider arming them to support the government’s anti-crime and anti-drug campaigns.