Advocates warn over arming civilian groups
Human rights group Karapatan said that this would only lead to more human rights violations in the context of the numerous reported cases of extrajudicial killings especially with the police and military’s repeated use of the ‘nanlaban’ (fought back) narrative, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture and other grave violations.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
MANILA – Groups expressed their opposition over President Duterte’s proposal to arm anti-crime civilian groups.
Duterte made the proposal during the launch of the Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy Support Groups and Force Multipliers last June 25.
Vice President Leni Robredo said that arming civilian groups is dangerous while the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said that Philippine National Police (PNP) is “more than enough to fight the crime.”