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Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Nalzaro: Another crazy proposal
By Bobby Nalzaro
I don't know what was in the mind of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña when he pushed for the arming of barangay captains in the mountain barangays with M16s. If the mayor's intention is in line with the security preparations for the Association of Southeast Asean Nations (Asean) summit this December, then the matter is already outside his jurisdiction.
Osmeña has expressed fears that the mountain barangays will be infiltrated by lawless elements or that terrorists planning to sabotage the Asean Summit might gain entry through these areas considering that security preparations for the international gathering is focused in the urban centers.
What kind of theory is that?
Terrorists are not ordinary people. They can operate anywhere, everywhere and anytime even in crowded and very secure areas. They won’t waste their time going to the mountains when their targets are in the urban areas. Aren’t their targets shopping malls, train and bus stations, churches and other crowded areas?
Okay, granting that they will enter the plains through the mountain barangays but do you think that the armalite rifle of a barangay captain can match the firepower of lawless elements or people planning to launch terrorist activities during the summit?
As for criminality, what do you think are the kind of crimes committed in rural areas?
Cattle rustling and other forms of thievery are the common ones committed in the mountain barangays. If there are killings, these are mostly motivated by personal grudge and land disputes. A neighbor will hack or stab his neighbor when they argue over simple matters after drinking tuba (coconut wine). There are no hired killers or vigilantes in those areas.
But can the barangay captain really solve these problems using his/her armalite rifle? Instead, with the M16, these barangay officials are inviting criminals, insurgents and the agaw-armas group to attack them, thus putting their lives and those of their relatives in danger.
That is why it is not practical and necessary that village chiefs will be issued high-powered firearms. An armalite rifle is the standard weapon issued to combatant units in the police and the Armed Forces and not just anybody can possess it.
While the Local Government Code allows barangay captains to carry firearms “in exercise of their performance and function in maintaining peace and order within their territorial jurisdiction,” there are also guidelines to follow in gun possession.
The Philippine National Police, the sole agency authorized under the law to issue licenses to possess and permits to carry guns, has laid down rules on the issuance of firearms to any individual. According to regulations, high-powered firearms such as M16s cannot just be issued to ordinary persons unless there is compelling reason.
Dili na man gani maka-alsa og bakya kanang ubang mga babayeng kapitan, padad-on pa nimo og armalite? I would say this is another crazy proposal coming from the mayor.
(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com/ 0918-2198333)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 7, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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