MANILA – Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra stated on Tuesday that President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to allow qualified civilians to wield arms as force multipliers is legal.
Except in times of martial law, Guevarra told reporters that civilians have always been free to arm themselves for protection, as long as they follow all existing laws and regulations governing the ownership, possession, and carrying of firearms outside of one’s residence, including the requirement to pass a neuro-psychiatric test.
There is also a necessary drug test.
The DOJ chief, on the other hand, expressed reservations about allowing civilian groups to be legally armed, claiming that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has enough manpower and resources to combat crime.
“Allowing them to band together and act like a vigilante group, however, is a totally different matter. I believe that the PNP is strong enough to perform this duty. Besides, except for a few high-profile incidents of violence, criminality on the streets is at an all-time low, due in part to the pandemic,” he said.
President Duterte declared over the weekend that he supported the notion of arming qualified volunteers to assist the government in enforcing the law.
“If you are qualified, get a gun and help us enforce the laws,” Duterte said at the launch of the Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy Support Groups and Force Multipliers in Camp Crame, Quezon City, emphasizing that firearms are only used when a criminal resists arrest or threatens the arresting person.
The President stated that they must become acquainted with the law and arrest protocols.
