ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ao expressed opposition to the idea of organizing and arming civilians to fight crime themselves.
“I do not agree with it. It’s like promoting vigilantes,” Ao said in a chance interview at the Western Mindanao Command headquarters here on Wednesday.
Ao said that he clarified the matter with President Rodrigo Duterte during their meeting on Monday.
“He (Duterte) was referring to the areas under the influence of CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines—New People’s Army). After those barangays have been cleared, there are civilians and they need to defend their villages,” Ao explained.
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Keep on reading: DILG chief Año opposes arming of civilians to fight crime