Año says firefighters must have firearms this year

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday insisted that Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel should be armed this year.

In a press statement, Año said arming the 29,286 agency's firefighters is both timely and practical in line with the government's efforts of fighting criminality, illegal drugs, terrorism as well as violent extremism.

"Maintaining law and order is not an easy task. Despite the decreasing crime rate in the country, having the BFP's firefighters in our peace and order campaign is a boost and welcome addition in ensuring a safe and secure country," Año said.

He further said arming the BFP personnel was in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's previous directive of "engaging the help of the BFP to maintain law and order and not to limit themselves to fire-fighting."

"The BFP also does law enforcement functions because they enforce the Fire Code so they already have some experience in this regard," Año said.

"The BFP can help ensure public safety, as a support to the PNP (Philippine National Police) and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) but of course, their primary responsibility is still preventing and suppressing fire and enforcement of the Fire Code," he added.

According to Año, the firefighters will be armed with 9mm pistols, adding that the BFP already requested funds from the Department of Budget and Management to finance the purchase of the said weapons.

Prior to the issuance of firearms, firefighters will undergo marksmanship and gun safety training, Año ensured.

"Hindi rin naman natin basta-basta aarmasan sila ng walang tamang training," he said.

For his part, BFP director Jose Segundo Embang said arming firefighters is an upgrade in terms of responsibilities and skills in order to "cope with the demands of the times."

"Hindi na ito 'yung conditional firefighters na nakikita natin before. Ito na 'yung mga modern heroes, kung makikita ninyo sa mga disasters, hindi lang sa mga natural disasters but even during manmade disasters, kasi sila talaga ang first responders, sila ang cornerstone of emergency preparedness and response," Embang said. —KG, GMA News