The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Monday, June 28, thumbed down President Duterte’s idea to allow civilian groups and anti-crime volunteers to carry arms to help in law enforcement.
Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. warned that arming civilian volunteers to serve as “force multipliers” may lead to abuse and more killings.
NO to armed vigilantes and paramilitary groups Tinututulan ng Bayan ang mungkahing pag-aarmas ng mga sibilyan bilang force multiplier para sa mga pulis at sundalo. Mapanganib ito at tiyak na pagmumulan ng napakaraming abuso.
— Renato Reyes, Jr. (@natoreyes) June 28, 2021
“Tinututulan ng Bayan ang mungkahing pag-aarmas ng mga sibilyan bilang force multiplier para sa mga pulis at sundalo. Mapanganib ito at tiyak na pagmumulan ng napakaraming abuso (The Bayan opposes the proposed arming of civilians as a force multiplier for the police and soldiers. It is dangerous and certainly a source of many abuse),” Reyes said.
Last week, Duterte expressed support to arm qualified civic groups and civilian volunteers to help the police in enforcing the law during the launch of the Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy Support Groups and Force Multipliers at Camp Crame.
“Magmimistulang wild wild west ang Pilipinas kapag pinayagan ang maitim na pakanang ito (The Philippines will look like wild wild west if this dark scheme is allowed),” Reyes said.
“Kaliwa’t kanang patayan ang magaganap (Numerous killings will take place),” he added.
Several groups have already voiced their opposition to Duterte’s proposal, saying that the move may lead to more killings and could intensify election-related violence.
“Duterte’s proposal is extremely dangerous and alarming as it could intensify election-related violence,” Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap said in a statement.
“Aside from using it against activists and suspected drug addicts, traditional and warlord politicians might commission these armed groups to attack their political rivals in the 2022 polls,” he added.
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/28/arming-anti-crime-volunteers-could-intensify-election-related-violence-group/
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) has also rejected the President’s idea, saying that the move could result to more “unwarranted and merciless killings.”
“Arming these civic groups will do more harm than good to the civilian population,” KMP leader Danilo Ramos said in a statement.
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/27/arming-civilian-volunteers-to-fight-crimes-may-lead-to-more-killings-group/
The Bayan official said that politicians could take advantage of such armed units and use them as private armies.
“Madaling gamitin bilang private army ng mga pulitiko ang mga grupong ito. Wala ding training at disiplina sila kaya maaari talagang humantong sa mga abuso (These groups can easily be used as a private army by politicians. They also lack training and discipline so this could really lead to abuses),” Reyes said.
“Kung ang pulis nga na may training ay nauuwi pa rin sa mga pagpatay ng sibilyan, paano pa kaya ang mga walang training (If trained police still end up killing civilians, what about those without training),” he added.