Duterte wants barangay officials armed with shotguns, .22 caliber handguns

President Rodrigo Duterte wants barangay officials who want to actively take part in the fight against crime and illegal drugs to have either shotguns or .22 caliber handguns.

Duterte said he would consult the Cabinet as regards his plan to arm barangay chairpersons and tanod, or village watchmen.

"I will consult the Cabinet pero ang aking proposal no heavy firearm, shotgun lang," Duterte said before Western Mindanao barangay chairpersons who gathered in Zamboanga del Sur.

"Tingnan mo ‘yan lahat ng tinamaan ng shotgun. O mga tanod siguro ninyo, .22. Basta may panlaban lang," he added.

"Alam ko medyo alangan kayo mag confront ng kriminal. Alam ko takot kayo kasi wala naman kayong armas. Kung bibigyan ko kayo ng armas, fight kayo?" Duterte said.

A gun enthusiast, Duterte said .22 caliber gun are also deadly.

"I’m telling you as a lawyer, as a trial lawyer for so long a time, trying murder, homicide cases. Maski .22, parang screwdriver," Duterte said.

"Pagka pumasok ‘yan, matamaan ang liver mo, matamaan ang gall bladder, matamaan ang pancreas, kidney. You only have 30 minutes [and you'll die]. Totoo ‘yan," he added.

Duterte said recipients of the guns will have to "work closely" with the military and police to prevent New People's Army (NPA) rebels from seizing their weapons.

"Mainit ang baril sa NPA," Duterte said.

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Martin Diño said early this month that handguns would be provided for free, or private purchases subsidized, for barangay captains not involved in illegal drugs.

Duterte has repeatedly said thousands of community officials were involved in the illegal drug trade, without elaborating.

Opposition lawmakers scored Duterte's plan to arm barangay leaders with Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin saying allowing more firearms even if licensed would perpetuate a culture of violence and abuse of power.

Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat Jr. said barangay officials are not equipped to enforce the law using guns while Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano urged the government to instead focus on equipping the police force with the right equipment and training. —NB, GMA News