Lapu Lapu City to issue guns to village chiefs

CEBU — The Lapu-Lapu City council yesterday approved the purchase of 25 9mm pistols for barangay captains for P845,000.

Councilor Alley Berdin, chairman of the committee on finance, said the purchase of firearms for the barangay captains was approved by Mayor Arturo Radaza.

He said, however, that not all village chiefs will be issued firearms. Radaza would make an assessment of who should be allowed to carry firearms.

Some members of the council have proposed training for the village heads before the firearms are issued.

Lapu-Lapu police chief Louie Oppus said he respects the decision of the council and is hoping that his request for firearms for the police will also be acted upon. A number of policemen in the city do not have guns, he disclosed.

On the other hand, the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, James Marti Lim, expressed his opposition to the idea since most village heads do not have proper training in handling firearms.

He fears the village chiefs might abuse the privilege.

Late last year, PNP chief Hermogenes Ebdane said that barangay captains can now carry and use firearms in the performance of their duties .

Ebdane said the guns could be .38 cal. revolver, a .22 cal., or a 9mm pistol. — Freeman News Service