Bato dela Rosa wants organized gun holders to help fight terrorists

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa expressed hope Friday that gun holders and owners could help the government fight terror groups.

“Sana mag-unite lahat ng gun owners, gun holders para they could stop the repeat of a Marawi siege,” dela Rosa said in his speech during a defense and sporting arms show in Mandaluyong City.

He believes organized gun owners and holders could be a deterrent to terrorist groups because the latter would know that there will be people who could immediately stop them.

“Sana lahat ng gunholders for example sa siyudad ng Cotabato, Davao, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, mag-organize para iyan ang magiging deterrent sa posibleng takeover ng another like in Marawi siege,” he said.

PNP chief Dela Rosa hopes licensed gun owners, holders could help govt fight terrorists @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/6OQWNsdZoJ

— Amita O. Legaspi (@amitalegaspi) November 17, 2017

Dela Rosa believes that licensed and trained gun holders could shoot it out with terrorists.

“‘Yung mga teroristang associated with ISIS, sana kapag ginawa nila iyan sa ibang siyudad hindi na sila makalabas. ‘Yung mga sibilyan na dapat ang titira sa kanila habang hindi pa dumadating 'yung pulis at military ,” he added.

Dela Rosa said he already organized gun owners in Davao City.

“Huwag kayong mag alala. Sa Davao City na-organize ko na lahat ng shooter doon, mga rifle shooter at pistol shooter, kaya kapag gumawa sila ng ganu'n sa Davao mahihirapan sila,” he said.

The Maute group attacked Marawi City when government troops tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon on May 23.

Fighting between government troops and the terrorist ended on October 23 after Hapilon and Maute group leader Omarkhayam Maute were killed in a nighttime operation.

Village security support

In an interview after his speech, Dela Rosa said the gun holders and owners could serve as village security support.

“Meron naman silang baril, they are legal gun holders, might as well utilize them as village support, village security, mas maganda kung tumulong sila dahil andun sila sa area mismo,” he said.

He, however, clarified that they are not forcing civilians to do it.

“For invasion, just like what we had in Marawi, sana kung andun ‘yung gun holders sa kani-kanilang bahay at may hawak na armas, tumulong makipag-barilan sa mga terorista, mas maganda. Iyan ay inaasam-asam natin but we are not forcing civilians to fight the terrorist, sa amin lang kung makatulong sila good,” he said.

He added that the gun holders and owners are limited to defend their own houses.

“Limited lang sila sa kanilang pamamahay, to defend their turf, defend their homes kasi andun naman ang  baril nila sa loob ng bahay. Kahit sino naman siguro kailangan depensahan yung pamamahay mo sa invaders, outsiders,” he said. — KG/RSJ, GMA News