PNP justifies arming civilian police auxiliary forces

MANILA, Philippines - Ignoring protests from several sectors, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it will push through with its plans to arm "trained" civilian police auxiliaries nationwide. In a radio interview, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said the distribution of 12,000 more shotguns to police auxiliaries is part of the PNP's "internal security operations" where police are to organize civilians to defend certain areas. "Meron pang darating 12,000 na shotguns pero sa buong Pilipinas ito, para sa Luzon at Visayas. Nagkataon inuna natin ito sa Mindanao dahil may problema (We expect 12,000 shotguns to arrive but these will be distributed nationwide, including Luzon and Visayas. It was just a coincidence that we distributed the first 1,000 in Mindanao because there was a problem there)," Bartolome said in an interview on dzXL radio. The PNP earlier distributed 1,000 shotguns to auxiliaries in Mindanao to protect villages, especially those attacked in recent weeks by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Bartolome said the distribution of shotguns is based on Executive Order 546, which requires the PNP to bolster internal security operations through police auxiliaries. He said auxiliaries should not be more than 50 years old, have no criminal record, have good moral character and are required to pass psychological and drug examinations. "Magkakaroon ng training at magkakaroon ng psychiatric testing para ma-determine ang capability ng tao mag-handle ng firearms (There will be training and psychiatric testing to make sure they can handle firearms)," Bartolome said. On the other hand, Bartolome insisted the auxiliaries will not be turned into private armies of local officials even if they get their allowances from local government units. He said the PNP does not have the money to provide for the auxiliaries' allowances. "May safeguard ito, PNP ang pipili nito (There are safeguards, the PNP will choose the auxiliaries)," Bartolome said, but did not give further details about the safeguards. Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it will monitor the distribution and use of shotguns by police auxiliaries deputized to defend certain villages against attacks. CHR chairwoman Leila de Lima expressed reservations on the move to arm civilian auxiliaries saying there is now a need to make sure the shotguns do not end up causing more security problems instead of "solving" them. "We are not closing our minds entirely sa ganoong initiatives, the times may call for that. Pero ang panawagan siguro sa nakararami ingatan ang ganyang move (We are not closing our minds to such an initiative, and the times may call for that. But many have been calling on authorities to be careful about it)," De Lima said in an interview on dzXL radio. She said the Philippine National Police, which is supplying the shotguns, must set "strict conditions" that will prevent auxiliaries from abusing the weapons. Otherwise, she said the issuance and use of the shotguns will only result in "more problems and more violence." "We are constrained to issue advice to proper authorities to regulate and monitor ... Dagdag trabaho ito sa regional team namin to closely monitor (We are constrained to issue an advice to the proper authorities to regulate and monitor these firearms. This will be added work for our regional teams to monitor the use of the firearms)," De Lima said. - GMANews.TV