PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte in his weekly public address on Monday said he was considering arming policemen with batons.
He made the statement amid the Philippine National Police’s deployment of yantok (rattan stick) patrollers for the strict enforcement of health protocol this yuletide season.
“Ngayon, kung ibabalik ko ‘yung baton — balik ko siguro pero ‘yung hard rubber. Huwag ‘yung kahoy kasi ano. Pero in the meantime the rattan will do (Now if I will bring back the use of baton — I might bring it back but those made of hard rubber not wood. But in the meantime, rattan will do).”
“We’ll look for the money next year. I’ll buy you the baton and the baton will be the — gamitin ‘yung baton, huwag ‘yung baril. (We’ll look for the money next year. I’ll buy you the batons and the batons will be used not guns).”
Duterte stressed if policemen will not be given batons then they may be prompted to use guns against those resisting arrest.
“You know, when a person resists arrest and he becomes violent, the first impulse of a police without a baton is to hold his gun. He might not draw it but he holds his gun, ready for action.”
He said the use of batons should be included in the first line of defense of the police.
“Dapat ito ang first line of defense ng pulis para hindi siya malapitan, agawin ‘yung baril o makipagsuntukan sa kanya, o makipag-struggle maski ayaw maaresto. The police can use a not-so-lethal weapon — iyong baton (This should be the first line of defense of police so that his gun will not be taken from him or he will not be beaten by those resisting arrest. The police can use this as a not-so-lethal weapon),” Duterte said.