A farmers group has opposed the proposal of President Duterte to allow civilian groups and anti-crime volunteers to carry arms to help fight crimes, saying that the move could result to more “unwarranted and merciless killings.”
In a statement on Sunday, June 27, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said the public must oppose Duterte's move to turn civic groups into private army and death squads.
“Arming these civic groups will do more harm than good to the civilian population,” KMP leader Danilo Ramos said in a statement sent to reporters.
Duterte floated the idea of arming qualified civilian volunteers to help the police fight crimes during the launch of the Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy Support Groups and Force Multipliers at Camp Crame last week.
“This is unacceptable and must be opposed. Tokhang killings have cost more than 30,000 lives. Extrajudicial killings also persist under the guise of joint police and military operations against illegal firearms and explosives,” the KMP said.
“Arming civic groups and so-called force multipliers will only expand the Duterte regime's crimes against humanity,” it added.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) had thumbed down the suggestion of arming civilians, saying that the country’s police force is “more than enough” to fight crimes.
“The PNP is more than enough,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement.
“Arming civilians without proper training, qualification, and clear lines of accountabilities may lead to lawlessness and proliferation of arms, which may further negatively impact the human rights situation in the country,” she added.