Senators: No guns for DOJ men

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra is running into opposition with his proposal to arm government prosecutors. —INQUIRER PHOTO

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra’s proposal to arm government prosecutors to ward off attacks was opposed by at least three senators with one of them saying that what Guevarra should do was to take police to task for a breakdown of law and order.

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he would not support funding for the firearms if it was included in the national budget.

“Funding purchase of guns for government lawyers is not the solution to the spate of killings,” Drilon said.

PNP accountability

The Philippine National Police should be made to answer for the attacks, he said.

“The PNP should be held to account for the breakdown in the peace and order in our country,” Drilon said.

“To protect the citizenry is PNP’s obligation, mission and mandate,” he added.

Arming other officials was not a solution to criminality as well, he said.

“The judges also want to be armed. The barangay captains, too. And tanods? [Public Attorneys Office] lawyers? Who else?” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte had offered to give guns to village captains to help him in his fight against crime and drugs.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III also said Guevarra should be calling on the PNP to do better and to ask for help from its more advanced international counterparts if necessary.

Effective law enforcers

“Why ask for more guns? Why not demand more effective law enforcement?” Pimentel said in a text message.

The police leadership should train its detectives to be better in solving crime, he said.

In the wake of Guevarra’s proposal, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde vowed to fast track the release of gun permits to government prosecutors.

Another senator, Grace Poe, said she, too, cannot support Guevarra’s proposal.

“We cannot possibly propose to arm every sector that has become the target of criminals as our way forward,” Poe said.