Armed citizens reduce our crime rate

I'm glad that Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has suspended peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), after all we already read the communiqué issued by CPP Chairman Jose Maria "Joma" Sison, who said, "In the face of the Duterte regime's martial law declaration in Mindanao, the necessity of waging revolutionary armed struggle becomes ever clearer." This is nothing short of a declaration of a continued war by the CPP against the government.

A few days ago, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana declared "we would like to make it clear that in the implementation of martial law in Mindanao, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will not specifically target the New People's Army as alleged by NDFP Chief Consultant Jose Maria Sison."

As I already said, this statement by Sec. Lorenzana was unnecessary as it comes after the statement by the top CPP leadership to escalate hostilities, simply because the CPP really does not want peace for our country! Rather, they want to take over our government and establish a Communist government to replace our democratic way of life, something that the ordinary Filipino abhors!

In a related issue, last week, when Pres. Duterte arrived from Russia, he declared that he would allow civilians to carry arms if things went out of hand and there was "severe fighting" in Mindanao. If there is anything that the terrorists including the New People's Army (NPA) fear, it is an indignant and armed citizenry fed up that the military cannot check these armed groups. This thought was supported by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña who quipped, "I am very much in favor of this, even for Cebu. The police is a force of thousands trying to protect a population of millions. They cannot be everywhere all the time."

Of course as we expected, Arvin Odron, Commission on Human Rights Director in Central Visayas, believes that that arming civilians is a dangerous thing. Obviously Director Odron hasn't done any research on this. In Switzerland, which is part of Europe that always comments on our Human Rights issues, all able-bodied civilians are given a submachine gun and must shoot this weapon at least once a year. This resulted is Switzerland's having the lowest crime rate in Europe if not the world. Why? Criminals know that if they entered a town or a house, the owners would have a submachine gun always on the ready waiting for them.

Indeed, if we civilians are called upon to defend ourselves in light of any terrorist attacks, I will not hesitate to use my licensed firearms to defend my home and my family. Mind you, we spent a good number of years during our youth shooting with our firearms in combat shooting mode. If need be, those years of practice could someday come in handy. But on the other hand, I would like to believe that the situation at hand is under control by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, thus PNP Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa ordered a gun ban implemented in Mindanao last Saturday.

Incidentally, I fully agree with The FREEMAN editorial entitled, "Old Fears, New Challenges Don't Mix." Let me quote excerpts of this editorial.

"At about the same time that Marawi exploded in our collective consciousness, there was Manchester, and then Jakarta shortly thereafter, followed by Egypt. In all of these places, one name leaps out with a chilling commonality -Isis, and the mayhem it represents. With such reality at hand, Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte responded quickly, placing the whole of Mindanao, where Marawi is, under martial rule.

"But instead of applauding the president for his swift and decisive action, or at least leaving him alone as leader to do what is best for the country, some Filipinos went to town castigating him. Their only compelling reason for doing so? They continue to be spooked by some long-ago martial law. They continue to dwell in the past, unmindful of the specter of real and far greater terror staring them in the face. To say that the Duterte martial law will be abusive and likely to violate human rights is to put the cart before the horse." How very true. Those yellowtard supporters of the Aquino family are always warning us of Martial Law as they continue to dwell in the past!

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