Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Gun owners told: Shoot criminals only to save lives By Ben O. Tesiorna
IN HIS usual tough mode, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte advised gun owners who witness an ongoing crime to just shoot the criminal and save his life as well as those of the innocents.
In his television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" Sunday, the mayor said many gun owners ask for his advice as to what they would do when they witness a crime.
"Ang uban kay hadlok man gud gamiton ilang baril kay basi unsa daw mahitabo sa ilaha (Some are afraid to use their gun for fear that worse things will happen to them)," Duterte narrated.
The mayor said the best move would be to just shoot, but only to protect a life.
He said killing somebody to protect a property is not justifiable.
"Kung muduol sa inyuha ang criminal ug mubunot (If the criminal approaches you with a gun) then your life is in danger now, diretsuhag patay. Tagaab pa ta mo ug medalya (go ahead and kill him and I will reward you with a medal for what you did)," Duterte said.
Duterte said he would also not think twice of shooting a criminal if he sees that somebody's life is in peril. But, he said, if the criminal is just stealing and is unarmed then it is best to just maim the person and not kill him.
