Planned PC revival backed

MANILA, Philippines – A member of the House of Representatives committee on national defense and security backed yesterday President Duterte’s plan to revive the Philippine Constabulary as a fourth branch of the Armed Forces devoted to police duties and to combating domestic threats.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said the Philippines needs a paramilitary force dedicated solely to quashing internal threats just like the Gendarmerie Nationale of France, the Carabinieri of Italy and the Guardia Civil of Spain.

“This way, the three existing service commands – the Army, Navy and the Philippine Air Force – can concentrate entirely on external threats,” he said.

“Our sense is, the President is disinclined to deploy existing military forces to suppress growing threats from the inside, particularly terrorism and drug trafficking. This is why he wants to revive the PC as the fourth military group with civil duties.”

Pimentel said France, Italy and Spain are among the countries with distinct military services having jurisdiction in civil law enforcement.