Should civilians now be armed? Duterte just ‘dramatizing,’ says Palace

Malacañang on Thursday made it clear that arming civilians is not yet a policy direction of the administration, even if President Rodrigo Duterte had raised its possibility anew after the recent foiled attack by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Inabanga, Bohol.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a briefing told reporters that President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement was a “dramatization” amid terrorism threats.

“I think the statement was about Bohol ‘no, but in a sense it was a dramatization of making sure that security is raised up in the area,” he said.

“It doesn’t mean to say that every house, and you know, will be having that. I’m sure it's simply... I’m  assuming that part of the civil defense, in civil defense... the ante would be pushed up,” Abella said.

“That’s something, that will be left to him but definitely what he’s saying is that he supports raising security in the area,” he added.

The spokesperson stressed that government has yet to release any official document or announcement about arming civilians to help thwart terrorism.

“It’s not a policy direction, okay. It’s not a policy... There’s no paper to support that. But what I’m saying is that this is his intention to raise security,” he said.

Duterte has been raising the possibility of arming civilians amid threats from drug personalities and terrorism.

The President on Wednesday said he would talk to the local officials to discuss the matter.

“Well, I intend also to arm the civilians and I will include the civilians. ‘Pag nakapatay ka, you don’t have to worry. You just go to the police and make the report and state your truth. Wala kang problema, I’ll take care of you. I’ll pardon you or whatever,” he said.

“I’m not at liberty because I have to talk to the local officials. They might have some objections, so I would like to hear first what would be the wherewithals in such a situation where we arm the civilians,” he said.

“Ako, I encourage civilians also to kill kasi dead or alive man ‘yan may reward pero mas gusto ko ‘yung dead kasi ‘yung alive magpakain pa ako, ma’am, magastos masyado,” Duterte continued. — MDM, GMA News