Allow threatened lawyers to carry firearms?
Yes, they can, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said on Sunday, March 14, in a radio interview over DZBB.
“Wala naman nagbabawal sa kanila kung gusto nila mag-armas” (Nothing stops them if they want to arm themselves), Guevarra said.
“Alam naman nila yan, part ng job nila yan na minsan exposed sila sa danger” (They know that and it is part of their job that sometimes they are exposed to danger), he said.
He admitted that it is impossible for law enforcement authorities to keep watch and ensure the safety of the thousands of lawyers in the country.
“Ang maitutulong sa kanila ng government ay i-expedite ang pag-issue sa kanila ng license to possess firearms and even permits to carry” (What the government can help them is to expedite the issuance of license to possess firearms and even permits to carry), he said.
Several lawyers groups have said that 61 lawyers, including prosecutors and judges, have been killed since 2016.