Senate rejects proposal to allow BFP personnel to bear firearms during fire emergencies

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a proposal to allow Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel to bear short firearms during fire emergency situations.

With only four senators voting for it, 13 against, and two abstentions, the chamber turned down Senator Bong Go proposed amendment in the BFP modernization bill.

Senator Francis Tolentino proposed the amendment on Go's behalf since the latter was not present in the Senate session.

The amendment would have allowed BFP personnel to carry short firearms during fire emergencies and disasters only, subject to the provisions of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and the Department of the Interior Local Government (DILG) Act of 1990; and would have allowed them to carry firearms upon undertaking appropriate training undertaken from the DILG and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who was sponsoring the measure, was in favor of the amendment and said it was being proposed at the request of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"His intention was to arm the BFP personnel with short firearms because he wanted to make this personnel available to support the law enforcement operations of the PNP and AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines]," Dela Rosa said.

He added that BFP personnel need to protect themselves in times of fire emergencies against unscrupulous individuals.

But Senator Grace Poe said carrying firearms is already beyond the mandate of the BFP.

"Hindi yun ang intensyon ng kanilang trabaho, hindi yan ang kanilang mandato. Dagdagan ninyo ang PNP na pwedeng makipagsapalaran sa mga pangangailangan nating domestic na mga hamon," she said.

"Pero para bigyan sila ng baril para gawin ang kanilang trabaho, parang hindi naman yan naaaayon sa kanilang sinumpaan na tungkulin at trabaho," she added.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also recalled that during the deliberations of the measure, resource persons said that BFP personnel did not want to be armed.

Dela Rosa corrected Zubiri and said that the BFP was divided regarding this matter, as some personnel did want to be given firearms.

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson said that the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act already provides that any individual, including firefighters, can possess a firearm as long as he is qualified.

"It's redundant because there's already an existing law that covers that," Lacson said, referring to the amendment.

Those who voted for the inclusion of the amendment are Dela Rosa, Go, Tolentino, and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Meanwhile, those who voted against it are Poe, Lacson, Zubiri, Senators Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Manny Pacquiao, Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, and Joel Villanueva.

Senators Sonny Angara and Imee Marcos abstained, while Senators Leila De Lima, Lito Lapid, Koko Pimentel, and Cynthia Villar did not cast a vote. — BM, GMA News