DUMAGUETE CITY — Arming barangay captains and other village officials is a broad idea to tackle and must be approached with caution, according to the head of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Oriental.
Dr. Jesus Cañete, CHR provincial chief and special field investigator, pointed out that barangay officials carrying guns will only “worsen the situation because even without such pronouncements, some barangay officials are already arming themselves for purposes of self-preservation, being confronted with a lot of concerns and problems in the barangay including drug addiction, illegal gambling and other forms of criminalities.”
Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte broached the idea of arming village officials in order to rid communities of drug addicts and criminals.
But Cañete believes that not all barangay officials are responsible as some are “elected because of their money,” while others are members of a big clan but “walay sulod and utok, unya paguniton pa gyud of armas, mamelegro and mga residente lakip na ang kaatbang niini sa pulitika (they are empty-headed and if armed to the detriment of residents and their political opponents).”
Based on their experience, among the usual complaints filed before the CHR is by residents against their village chiefs for abuse of authority and politicking, he said.
Cañete said that under the law, anyone may possess a licensed firearm but it should not be an automatic weapon. Also, applicants for permit to carry a gun must undergo neuro and psychiatric exam, drug tests, and other procedures.
“Not all ‘punong’ barangays are in their proper state of mind, others may be ‘yabag og utok’ (having discordant brain),” Cañete pointed out. (Juancho Gallarde/PNA)
