DILG justifies arming barangay execs, to issue guidelines

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) justified plans to arm barangay officials as part of the government’s anti-crime effort.

DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya over the weekend said Section 387 of the Local Government Code allows the issuance of firearms to barangay officials. 

“The law provides that in the performance of his peace and order functions, the Punong Barangay shall be entitled to possess and carry necessary firearm within his territorial jurisdiction subject to appropriate rules and regulations. Therefore, we have legal basis,” said Malaya, concurrent DILG spokesman.

Malaya said the planned policy will be backed by DILG guidelines to ensure its correct and proper implementation.

“We are looking at this possibility as we have been working and studying the mechanics to ensure its proper implementation. We will issue the directive in due time after considering the perspective of various stakeholders,” he added.  

President Duterte said he was considering arming barangay chiefs to ensure their protection in the war against drugs and crime when he led the mass oath-taking of Central Luzon barangay chiefs recently.

As soon as the DILG guidelines are issued, he says, local government units may also issue firearms to barangay captains. “But it all depends on the guidelines that shall be issued,” he said.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año is supporting Duterte’s proposal of arming barangay captains as a form of self-protection depending on the gravity of existing threats for their personal safety.

Año explained that arming village chiefs is a viable plan depending on the gravity of the threat the barangay captain is receiving. The source of the threat, such as drug syndicates and terrorists, is a factor.

“As they are our first line of defense in the grassroots level, their exposure to various scalawags and criminal elements is high. The need for urgent protection is therefore imperative,” he said. 

“Arming them would be more of self-defense purposes since we have enough police forces to operate against lawless elements,” Año added.

 According to Año, barangay officials may buy their own guns legally and can be granted a permit to carry so they can defend themselves.

 Barangay chiefs, he said, may also be accepted as CAFGUS or Special Civilian Armed Forces so that they can be issued government firearms and mission orders.

 “As such they can fully support law enforcement units in eliminating armed lawless elements threatening the lives of the people in the community they are mandated to protect,” he explained.

Malaya maintained the DILG’s primary concern is the safety and security of barangays and their residents.

“For the meantime, let’s keep an open mind. Rest assured that the safety and security of the barangays and the residents are our outmost concern,” he said.