ZAMBOANGA CITY–The City Council has expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to arm barangay officials.
In a resolution authored by Councilor Juan Climaco Elago II, the City Council said barangay officials, including tanods (village watchmen), should be armed to better respond to peace and order concerns. It was approved during the City Council’s regular session on Tuesday.
Elago, however, said that the barangay officials should only be authorized to carry firearms within their respective villages.
“They are the front-line responders. If there are terrorists in their barangays, how can they respond if they don’t have firearms?” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte on June 8 said during a mass oath taking of elected village officials in the Visayas that he is considering arming the barangay officials to make them more effective as peacekeepers.
Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año has also said barangay officials need protection from threats they encounter in the performance of their duties.
Año said the issuance of license should be free as the firearms are government-owned, and must be returned by the barangay officials at the end of their term. (R. G. Antonet Go/PNA)
