DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte will soon impose the “Alunan Doctrine”, which limits the number of armed guards of politicians.
The President said the move is aimed at ensuring a clean mid-term elections in 2019.
“I commit to the Filipino people that this will be a clean election,” Duterte said in his speech at the Davao Convention and Mass Oath-Taking of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) at the SMX Convention Center here Friday night.
He assured that there will be voting and the votes will be counted correctly.
The Alunan doctrine was introduced by former interior and local government secretary Rafael Alunan III to implement “Oplan Paglalansag” against private armies and the recovery of loose firearms throughout the country.
It ruled that more than two armed men moving or assembling in a group constitute a private army that must be broken up and disarmed.
Duterte said he will ban the bringing of long firearms, which will apply anywhere in the country, from Jolo to Abra, given the ongoing threat of terrorism.
He said the military is prohibited from joining political sorties but checkpoints will be established.
“At kung may baril — arrest the candidate together with (their security). Confiscate the firearms (Candidates and their bodyguards will be arrested if they are armed),” he warned.
The President said candidates are better off with one security and the rest will be taken care of by the government. “Ako nang bahala sa mga bad boys (I will take care of the bad boys),” he said.
Duterte also warned communist rebels not to meddle in the elections.
“Huwag kayong makialam at maghingi ng taxation kasi mas lalo tayong lalayo nang lalayo sa solusyon natin. Huwag kayong makialam kasi election ito (Do not meddle and ask for revolutionary taxes because it will bring us farther to our solution [peace process]). Do not terrorize us,” the President added. (Lilian Mellejor/PNA)
