Isabela mayor, lawmaker fight over guns’ purchase

SANTIAGO CITY — The mayor of this Isabela city and the province’s fourth district congressman have been at odds over the controversial purchase by the city government of firearms, including high-powered ones, worth P3 million for the city police force.

Mayor Amelita Navarro called on her political rivals yesterday "not to hold hostage" the city’s peace and order by blocking the city government’s initiatives to improve police service.

This developed as Rep. Anthony Miranda asked the leadership of the Philippine National Police to reject the firearms donated by the city government to the city police force.

In a letter to Camp Crame, Miranda, younger brother of former city mayor Jose Miranda, whom Navarro defeated in the 2004 elections, also criticized the formation of the city’s Special Firearms and Tactics Team (SFTT), saying it was "highly irregular."

Navarro said her administration realized the need to support the PNP, which is hampered by lack of funds and equipment, to improve its capability to fight criminality and protect internal security.

"As city officials, the security of our citizens is our top priority. Rep. Miranda’s accusations reek of political harassment and partisan politics," she said.

She said the firearms’ purchase was intended "to fortify our battle against holduppers, drug pushers, bank robbers and other criminals."

"Let us not transform this issue into a partisan political football," she said. "It is unfortunate that our political rivals are tainting our public service initiatives with political innuendos and malicious insinuations."

Besides an initial 20 Russian-made AK-47s and four sub-machine guns for the SFTT, Navarro also ordered the purchase of two sniper rifles and 70 caliber .45 pistols for the city’s regular police personnel.