By Chito Chavez
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has welcomed on Thursday the arming of its 29,000-strong personnel stressing its necessity for them to assist other law enforcement groups in fighting criminal elements when the need arises.
Bureau of Fire Protection
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
BFP spokesperson Fire Senior Superintendent Geranndie Agonos said the move is lawful citing that during the time of the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (PC-INP) the police and jail and fire personnel were armed.
Earlier, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año also highly recommended the arming of firefighters to protect them from unruly fire incident victims.
He said there were numerous times that the BFP personnel were harassed by the fire victims who wish that their burning houses be attended to immediately in what sometimes the BFP personnel viewed as illogical.
Año also insisted that BFP personnel must be armed with 9mm pistols within the year so that they may help in the government's peace and order campaign.
Agonos added that the firearms would provide optimum aid for firefighters in arson investigations, fire code enforcement and response operations to fire incidents.
The BFP official noted it is very agonizing that BFP firemen were hurt and harmed by unscrupulous fire victims up to the point of forcibly taking the nozzle out of their hands that left them sometimes helpless.
Agonos that the armed firefighters will likely fend off unruly residents from ganging up on them during fire incidents.
The rules of engagement for armed firefighters are still being finalized as Agonos assured the public of a higher sense of responsibility among the members of the BFP.
Asked whether the firefighters are ready to join the government's war against criminality, illegal drugs, and terrorism, Agonos said that the agency was mandated to assist the armed forces in times of emergency.
Año also on Wednesday has cited Section 12 of the Republic Act 6975 which states: "In times of national emergency, all elements of the PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology shall, upon direction of the President, assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines in meeting the national emergency". (Chito Chavez)