THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG 11) junked the idea of arming barangay officials to solve insurgency and criminality.
DILG regional director for Davao Region Alex C. Roldan issued such statement after President Rodrigo Duterte earlier announced the idea of giving firearms to all barangay captains and their respective watchers.
"Personally, I do not believe that arming them (barangay officials) would be the best solution to fight insurgency and criminality. Why don’t we leave this thing to the experts," Roldan said.
He said giving firearms to barangay officials and watchers will only create a different image. He added that there are government authorities and armed forces who can handle insurgency.
"Let us help the police and the armed forces by doing our share in strengthening the services of the local government units. Let us improve the government kung unsa man tong mga reklamo," he said.
Roldan said he believes once concerned government agencies will work on addressing the clamor of the people, the government will also be to able address insurgency and/or criminality in the surroundings.
Duterte, in a gathering in Zamboanga City, said he was consulting with Cabinet officials to arm all 1,049 newly-elected barangay officials and their respective watchers there.
The president said he will not issue high powered firearms but only shotguns for village officials and caliber 22 or Beretta for barangay tanods, preferably those who had undergone training in ROTC; and retired military and police officials.